SULTAN APPOINTS FEMALE AMBASSADOR TO U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001458 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PINR MU SUBJECT: SULTAN APPOINTS FEMALE AMBASSADOR TO U.S. REF: MUSCAT 642 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). (C) On September 27, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree announcing various changes in ambassadorial assignments, including appointing Ms. Hunaina al-Mughairy as ambassador to the United States. While her appointment was not given special treatment in the government's press release or in the formal media, al-Mughairy is just the second Omani woman appointed as ambassador to a country (Netherlands having the first). Chatter on the Omani internet highlighted this fact, to generally positive reviews. A Foreign Ministry contact intimated that al-Mughairy will likely prove more energetic than outgoing ambassador Mohammed Ali al-Khusaibi, though he likewise noted that she will have to make do with the same limited staff. (Note: See reftel for biographic information on al-Mughairy. End note.) BALTIMORE