EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/30/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 001206

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/EX
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/DSS/OSAC, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/CC,
DS/IP/OPO, CA/OCS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1
TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/30/2005

REF: MUSCAT 1186

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 30 to review the
Embassy's security posture following the local 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.

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Security Situation
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2. (SBU) On July 30, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of
the full EAC to review the Embassy's security posture
following the local 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.


3. (SBU) RSO did, however, discuss a July 29 incident in
which an American female employee was followed by an unknown
Omani male driving a late-model Mercedes shortly after
departing the Embassy in her privately owned vehicle (SIMAS
#74277). RSO confirmed that the Royal Oman Police are
actively investigating the incident, which they are initially
assessing as a probable case of harassment. Members,
including Duty Officer, cited no other 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.

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Reporting Incidents
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4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, and referencing
the incident outlined above, RSO asked all members of the EAC
to once again remind their staffs and family members of the
need to immediately report all suspicious activity or
security-related incidents to Post One.

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EAC Conclusion
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5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no
substantive changes in the local security environment since
the last meeting held on July 27 (reftel). 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, DCM, P/E (Duty Officer),A/MGT, RSO, RMAS, CONS,
MSG, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the
meeting.
BALTIMORE