BIN ALAWI UPBEAT ON DEFEATING TERRORISM

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001171

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER OPRC XF MU
SUBJECT: BIN ALAWI UPBEAT ON DEFEATING TERRORISM

REF: MUSCAT 1051


1. Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi
extensively devoted his July 23 Renaissance Day remarks,
typically used to review the ministry's achievements in the
preceding year, to the international problem of terrorism.
Speaking to Radio Oman's "Festival Nights" program from his
residence in Salalah, the minister struck a positive tone
about the situation. The political crisis in which the world
finds itself as a result of terrorist attacks, he claims, is
nearing its end because "the war on terrorism has become open
and direct between extremist forces, on the one hand, and the
world on the other hand... and we cannot imagine that
regional extremist forces would defeat the whole world."


2. The minister alluded that the lessons learned in the war
on terror would serve the interest of stability and instill a
tougher defense against "destabilizing and demoralizing
factors." He called for maximum efforts to guarantee the
development of nations, lauding the efforts of Sultan Qaboos
and the Omani public in ensuring security and stability in
the Sultanate. (Note: See reftel for the minister's recent
comments on a number of other regional issues in an interview
with a UAE-based newspaper. End note.)
BALTIMORE