INDIA WINS OMANI SUPPORT FOR UNSC SEAT, DEEPENS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 002285

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/INS, NEA, NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014
TAGS: PREL ETRD EPET KCRM MARR IN MU
SUBJECT: INDIA WINS OMANI SUPPORT FOR UNSC SEAT, DEEPENS
TIES

REF: NEW DELHI 8053

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (b, d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) On December 25-26, Indian Minister of External Affairs
Natwar Singh met with Sultan Qaboos and various government
ministers to boost bilateral relations. Oman formally
announced its backing of India's bid for a permanent seat on
the UN Security Council, and the two parties pledged to
continue joint naval exercises. During the brief visit, both
countries signed a landmark treaty of extradition, reviewed
opportunities for increasing India's presence in the oil and
gas sector, and discussed further cooperation in the areas of
information technology, trade and investment, and labor.
Singh's stay ended with the much anticipated groundbreaking
of the new Indian Embassy next door to the U.S. mission. END
SUMMARY.

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THE INSIDE SCOOP
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2. (C) In a December 27 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (YBA)
characterized Indian Minister of External Affairs Natwar
Singh's visit as having gone "very well." Bin Alawi said
Singh was extremely positive on Indo-U.S. relations and the
course of confidence building with Pakistan, noting that
Singh was looking forward to the meeting of the Indian and
Pakistani PM's at the South Asian Summit in January. Bin
Alawi confirmed that Oman had formally pledged to support
India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
On a minor note, the Minister said a diplomatic dinner
scheduled for Christmas in Singh's honor was canceled in
mourning for the death of former Indian PM Narasimha Rao.

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COOPERATION ABOUNDS
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3. (U) On December 25, the Indian minister met with Sultan
Qaboos to deepen bilateral relations and reaffirm India's
commitment to peace and stability in the region. Oman
expressed interest in India's information technology,
pharmaceuticals, and bio-technology sectors. Reaching a
milestone in their bilateral relations, the two countries
signed a treaty of extradition. Moreover, Oman participated
fully in the 50th anniversary celebrations of India's
diplomatic presence in Oman.


4. (U) Singh and Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin
Ali Sultan focused on increasing trade and investment, both
bilaterally and regionally, including building further on the
success of the $1 billion joint venture Oman-India Fertilizer
project and resolving outstanding labor issues. In a
subsequent meeting with Sayyid Badr bin Saud al-Busaidi,
Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs, the two parties
reviewed ongoing defense ties, particularly the continuation
of joint naval exercises and increased training of Omanis in
Indian defense institutions.


5. (U) In his meeting with Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad al-Romhi,
Minister of Oil and Gas, Singh sought to collaborate more
closely in the extractive industries sector. Much of the
talk centered around enhancing India's presence in the
hydrocarbon sector of Oman, primarily through onshore and
offshore exploration for oil and gas and the provision of
services and supplies for current drilling operations. In a
brief meeting with Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq, Minister of
Heritage and Culture, Singh discussed potential avenues to
further bilateral cultural understanding, including
undertaking joint research of archival documents and
publications on the historical ties between the two
countries. Finally, the two nations signed a memo of
understanding between the State Audit Institution of Oman and
the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for cooperation
in audit matters.

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NEW NEIGHBORS
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6. (SBU) The Minister's program culminated in the much
anticipated groundbreaking of the new Indian Embassy. The
future chancery will include the ambassador's residence as
well as a 500-seat multipurpose auditorium for cultural and
social occasions. Yusuf bin Alawi was in attendance as
Minister Singh laid the cornerstone in the final hours of his
whirlwind visit. YBA said Singh was buoyant at the notion of
putting India's mission in the vacant lot immediately between
the U.S. and UK embassies, amongst the "Superpowers." Bin
Alawi said he did not have the heart to tell Singh that
Turkey will eventually build a new embassy between the
Indians and UK.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) While intemperate Omanis are still occasionally heard
to grumble about the "Hindu" presence among the resident
expatriate community, Indo-Omani relations are quite strong
(reftel) and appear to be deepening. From Oman's
perspective, India is more than simply a source of cheap
manual labor. Rather, it is increasingly a source of foreign
direct investment in the expanding gas-fed industries, as
well as a ready market for fertilizer and other future Omani
exports. Oman also banks on India's IT expertise for local
human resource development, with an increasing number of
formal relationships between technical training institutes.
And despite Oman's close historical connections to Pakistan
(primarily Baluchistan),the Sultanate does not shy away from
military linkages to New Delhi or supporting India's bid for
a UNSC seat.
BALTIMORE