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). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- Human RIGHTS Council, Peacebuilding -------------- ¶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. -------------- Security COUNCIL Expansion -------------- ¶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. -------------- MDA: Source of Frustration -------------- ¶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