Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT1493
2005-10-05 09:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN - QUARTERLY

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI ECON PHUM MU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001493 

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI ECON PHUM MU
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN - QUARTERLY
REPORT

REF: A. STATE 152818

B. MUSCAT 792

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001493

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI ECON PHUM MU
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN - QUARTERLY
REPORT

REF: A. STATE 152818

B. MUSCAT 792

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


1. (SBU) The following quarterly update on mission
implementation of the Oman Democratic Reform Strategy is
keyed to the three goals established in ref A, namely:
legislative strengthening, media reform and NGO empowerment.

--------------
Legislative Strengthening
--------------


2. (C) The DCM-chaired MEPI Committee has formulated a
strategy for supporting Oman's proto-parliament (the Majlis
al-Shura) as it evolves into a true legislature. The
development of the Majlis al-Shura from a wholly appointed
talking shop to a completely elected consultative council has
been slow but steady. We plan to continue to work closely
with the Majlis al-Shura and with other actors, including the
International Republican Institute (IRI),to continue its
development into a genuine, democratic and truly
representative institution.


3. (C) Embassy officers over the next quarter will continue
to engage key parliamentarians of both chambers to identify
practical measures to help bring about the evolution of a
genuine legislature. Based on previous conversations, we
intend to:

a) Encourage Majlis al-Shura deputies to hold public hearings
with concerned citizens to elevate the Majlis al-Shura's
public standing and profile;

b) Assist the adoption of a set of parliamentary rules, akin
to the Jordanian model;

c) Promote the unification of the two separate houses'
secretariats;

SIPDIS

d) Follow up on an informal proposal to work with the
Ministry of Social Development on a voter education campaign
with a local women,s NGO prior to the 2007 elections.


4. (C) Actions This Quarter:

-- Ongoing discussions with Majlis al-Shura staff that
identified some of the measures listed in paragraph 3;

-- Informal consultations with Foreign Ministry supporters of
MEPI activities;

-- Consultations with International Republican Institute;

-- Embassy hosted visit of NEA/PI David Mulenex to confer on
strategy and meet with Omani contacts.

--------------
Media Reform
--------------


5. (C) The MEPI Committee has formulated an action strategy
for the coming quarter and beyond. Embassy officers will
engage key media interlocutors to unify an approach for
reforming the government's existing means for controlling the
media, through both deregulation and privatization. Key
players will include senior management of existing media
firms, and investors with pending license applications for
new media outlets including radio stations. A technical
assistance package might be required.


6. (C) Actions This Quarter:

-- Consultations with Foreign Ministry;

-- Strategy adopted by MEPI Committee.

--------------
NGO Empowerment
--------------


7. (C) With the goal of increasing public space for NGOs and
advocacy groups, and expanding the number of registered NGOs
to 25 by December 2006, the MEPI Committee has adopted a
two-pronged strategy of working both with the Ministry of
Social Development, which regulates NGOs.


8. (C) Actions This Quarter (or before):

-- We succeeded in obtaining a request from the Minister of
Social Development last May to place a bilingual U.S. advisor
in her ministry, who will hopefully serve as a catalyst to
expedite the NGO registration process and improve the
efficacy of existing NGOs;

-- We facilitated appointments with NGOs such as Vital Voices
for the Minister of Social Development when she traveled to
New York in September as part of Oman's delegation to the UN
Summit;

-- The Embassy hosted the September visit of NEA/PI David
Mulenex who held some highly productive meetings that
identified how the Ministry could work with MEPI, especially
re the Ministry,s efforts to empower women;
-- The Embassy secured MEPI support for sponsoring a MEPI
booth at the first-ever "Women's Expo" to take place in
Muscat in mid-December;

-- The Ministry of Social Development registered a new
professional association, the Omani Internal Auditors
Association in August;

-- An embassy event brought together NGO and Ministry of
Social Development representatives who initiated an informal
discussion of the constraints facing NGOs;

-- The Embassy has reached out to Oman women who have formed
an informal NGO advisory committee to assist the Minister of
Social Development.


9. (C) Our plans for near-term next steps include:

-- Replying to the Ministry of Social Development's concept
paper for a technical advisor;

-- Submitting a detailed scope of work for both the advisor
and for technical assistance to the Oman Women's
Associations;

-- Publicizing 2005 MEPI Small Grants for two local NGOs to
spur further interest in NGO and advocacy groups;

-- Requesting a training program for NGOs on how to recruit,
manage and motivate volunteers;

-- Soliciting proposals for 2006 MEPI Small Grants.
BALTIMORE