OMANI VIEWS ON UN REFORM ISSUES, MDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001355

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO, DRL, AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM MU
SUBJECT: OMANI VIEWS ON UN REFORM ISSUES, MDA

REF: MUSCAT 1303 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM William R. Stewart.
Reasons: 1.4 (b, d).

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Summary
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1. (C) On September 5, the Omani MFA IO Chief reiterated the
Sultanate's opposition to the G-4 plan for UN Security
Council expansion. While sympathizing with USG views on a
proposed Human Rights Council and Peacebuilding Commission,
he forecast that Oman would remain on the sidelines of those
debates for as long as possible. While he did not anticipate
imminent Arab acceptance of the Israeli Magen David Adom into
the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, he indicated, however,
Omani impatience with the matter and a desire to move beyond
it. End summary.


2. (U) On September 5, Pol/Econ Chief discussed a range of UN
issues (septels) with MFA International Organizations
Department Chief Ambassador Talib bin Miran al-Raisi.
Ambassador al-Raisi provided a brief update to previous
conversations on key UN reform matters.

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Human Rights Council, Peacebuilding
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3. (C) Regarding proposals to establish a new UN Human Rights
Council and a Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador al-Raisi
expressed sympathy for the USG position. He said that he had
included USG talking points in a position paper he prepared
for FM Yusuf bin Alawi and the MFA Under Secretary on those
subjects. Ambassador al-Raisi indicated that he was
personally strongly sympathetic to the idea of a streamlined
and effective Human Rights Council. He cautioned, however,
that MFA leadership had opted not to come out decisively in
favor of any particular proposal, but rather to keep its
options open as the debate evolves in New York.

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Security Council Expansion
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4. (C) Ambassador al-Raisi reiterated his previous assurance
that Oman opposed the G-4 model for UNSC expansion, and that
the Sultanate would continue to urge the G-4 not to push its
proposal any further.

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MDA: Source of Frustration
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5. (C) Concerning recognition of the Israeli Magen David Adom
(MDA) by the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent societies, Ambassador al-Raisi noted that the issue
involved several departments within the Foreign Ministry
besides his own. He said it had been discussed at the OIC
Ministerial in Sanaa in June, only to be tabled for
discussion at a later date. Until then, Ambassador al-Raisi
was not sanguine on prospects for pronounced movement. He
noted, however, that trends among Arab states seemed to be
moving in favor of admitting MDA and putting the issue behind
them. P/E Chief noted that such indications are commonplace,
yet nobody seems willing to step forward and break the ice.
Ambassador al-Raisi replied that FM Yusuf bin Alawi made a
blistering intercession along those lines at the Sanaa OIC
ministerial, coming away highly frustrated with his peers.
P/E Chief noted the planned Swiss-convened September 12-13
Red Cross/Red Crescent consultations in Geneva, and hoped
that Oman might by then be in a position to help.
BALTIMORE