OMAN OPPOSES G-4 RESOLUTION, STUDIES OTHER REFORMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001190

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO, IO/PSC (LMALENAS),AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: OMAN OPPOSES G-4 RESOLUTION, STUDIES OTHER REFORMS

REF: A. SECSTATE 137602 AND PREVIOUS


B. MUSCAT 1149

C. SECSTATE 114051

D. SECSTATE 130530

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

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Summary
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1. (C) The MFA's International Organizations Department Chief
confirmed on July 27 that Oman will either oppose or abstain
in any vote on the G-4 Resolution for UN Security Council
expansion. Ambassador Talib al-Raisi added that Oman has
actively urged the resident G-4 ambassadors not to put the
motion forward for a vote, despite Oman's support for their
individual candidacies. Ambassador Talib indicated that Oman
is still reviewing other UN reform initiatives, but suggested
possible support for the USG position on a new Peacebuilding
Commission, while the Human Rights Commission proposal
remains more controversial. End summary.

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To Abstain or Oppose G-4 Resolution
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2. (C) The Embassy delivered ref A demarche on July 27 to MFA
Chief of International Organizations Department Ambassador
Talib bin Miran al-Raisi. Amb. Talib reported that the
Ministry was initially divided on the G-4 Resolution, with
their mission in New York advocating in favor of it as the
"most realistic" option, while Amb. Talib and his department
opposed it as unlikely to gain two-thirds support in the
General Assembly. As the resolution became more
controversial internationally, Minister Yusuf bin Alawi sided
with the IO Department's argument. Amb. Talib convoked the
German, Indian, and Japanese ambassadors (Brazil does not
have a local embassy) and said in diplomatic terms that,
while Oman supported their candidacies to the UNSC, the
Sultanate "advised" them that this was not an auspicious time
to bring their resolution to a vote; if they did, Oman might
be forced "to take a different position." The G-3 pushed
back, though the Japanese Ambassador in a separate meeting
with MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr seemed to agree with the
Omani assessment.


3. (C) Ambassador Talib confirmed that, if a vote on the G-4
Resolution were brought forward, Oman would either abstain or
vote against. Oman advocates a more gradual, step-by-step
process for UNSC expansion. Amb. Talib also indicated that
UNSYG Annan seemed to be putting particular urgency on UNSC
reform in the hopes of accomplishing it before the end of his
tenure, which Oman views as being a rash and artificial
deadline. The IO chief was not aware of whether there was an
Arab League consensus on the G-4 proposal, guessing that the
AL might be waiting for indications of how the African Union
might decide. He nevertheless indicated that Oman would
stick to its current position regardless.

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Peacebuilding Commission, Human Rights Committee
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4. (C) Having previously provided the Ministry with USG views
on a proposed Peacebuilding Commission and creation of a new
Human Rights Council (refs C and D),we amplified our points
with Amb. Talib and solicited the Sultanate's views. He
indicated that his department had drafted a comprehensive
report on UN reform that was briefed to the Minister and
Under Secretary. The briefing paper was commissioned because
of the confusing jumble created by the UNSYG's "In Larger
Freedom" report and "reports on that report" that, he said,
often had contradictory points. Ambassador Talib was
reluctant to get into detail on how the Omani briefing paper
came out on the reform proposals, not being able to recall
the salient points. He undertook to have one of his deputies
brief the embassy in the near future.


5. (C) Ambassador Talib had a more favorable initial reaction
to the Peacebuilding Commission points, saying he recalled
that Oman took a very similar view to the U.S. demarche. The
Human Rights Commission was more controversial, pointing out
that many third world nations had qualms about it. We
reiterated the need to have a credible and effective body
with higher membership standards and more targeted scope.
The IO Chief fully agreed that the CHR was of little use in
its present guise and that it seemed to attract the worst
human rights abusers among its membership.


6. (U) The Embassy will report any follow-up responses from
the Ministry on these issues.
BALTIMORE