EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/03/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001036 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/03/2005 REF: A. MUSCAT 1029 ¶B. MUSCAT 1001 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael G. Snowden. Reason: 1.4(c)(g). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 3 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and force protection condition (FPCON) remain appropriate. End Summary. -------------- Local Security Situation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On July 3, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC continued to characterize as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman. Members, including Duty Officer, cited no security incidents among their staffs or family members over the weekend, while CONS confirmed that there were no reported security incidents or security-related queries from the private American citizen community. -------------- Independence Day Celebration -------------- ¶3. (C) The EAC again reviewed security arrangements for the Embassy's official Independence Day event, scheduled for Monday, July 4, at the Intercontinental Muscat hotel. RSO noted that a final walk-through with hotel security staff and Royal Oman Police (ROP) officials is scheduled for the morning of the event. As previously reported (reftel B),ROP support will include extensive uniformed and plain-clothed coverage in and around the venue, to include EOD personnel, and the enforcement of a no-parking standoff zone. -------------- Sustained Vigilance -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated that, despite the relative calm, members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members the need for vigilance regarding all aspects of personal security - to include maintaining a low profile and remaining unpredictable. RSO further re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no changes in the local security environment since the last meeting held on June 29 (reftel A). Accordingly, members agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate. Embassy Muscat remains acutely aware of the need to monitor both the regional and local security and threat environments, and is prepared to take the necessary countermeasures should changes to either occur. AMB, A/DCM, MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, PAO, CONS, MSG, OMC (USDR),and Duty Officer participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE