Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT1540
2005-10-15 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ REFERENDUM

Tags:  PREL OPRC IZ MU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

151323Z Oct 05
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001540 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/I, NEA/PPD, AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPRC IZ MU
SUBJECT: OMAN SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ REFERENDUM

REF: A. MUSCAT 1534


B. STATE 189909

C. STATE 188987

-------
Summary
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UNCLAS MUSCAT 001540

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/I, NEA/PPD, AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPRC IZ MU
SUBJECT: OMAN SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ REFERENDUM

REF: A. MUSCAT 1534


B. STATE 189909

C. STATE 188987

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) As requested in several demarches, the Omani
government gave strong public encouragement for the Iraqi
constitutional referendum process in the days leading up to
the October 15 balloting. Editorials have hailed the
referendum as a historic opportunity to secure future Iraqi
stability, and denounced armed groups that target civilians
and reject the peaceful political process. End summary.

--------------
The Government Speaks Out
--------------


2. (SBU) Further to ref A report on the Ambassador's October
13 discussion with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs,
and consonant with demarche requests in refs B and C, the
Omani government and press featured a flurry of statements
and articles praising the historic opportunity of Iraq's
October 15 constitutional referendum.


3. (U) All major Omani media publicized a Foreign Ministry
statement on October 13 under the headline, "The Sultanate
expresses its optimism and hopes for a new era of stability."
A representative excerpt on October 14 stated, "The
Sultanate expressed yesterday its optimism with regards to
the agreement reached among Iraqi political leaders about the
voting on the draft of the constitution which is due
tomorrow. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said that the Sultanate hopes that the new (constitutional
compromise) will be a start for a new era that will
contribute to establishing peace and stability in brotherly
Iraq."

--------------
Favorable Editorials
--------------


4. (U) October 15 editorials in the state-owned "Oman" and
privately owned "Al-Watan" newspapers were supportive of the
Ministry's statement and the referendum. Calling it a
"decisive day for Iraq's future and for the region," the
editorial in "Oman" extolled: "It is important and necessary
that Iraqis vote today for the sake of unity, progress and
reinventing life, and to disappoint those groups who care
only about their interests and want Iraq to enter into an
endless dark tunnel."


5. (U) The "Al Watan" editorial on October 15 focused
somewhat more on its call for the withdrawal of foreign
forces from Iraq, though it hailed the referendum as one of
several elements that will lead to a new Iraq. Both
editorials denounced armed opposition groups in Iraq, with
"Al-Watan" calling for "cleaning Iraq of all armed groups
targeting civilians and seeking to impose their opinion using
a rifle."


6. (U) The Embassy delivered ref B demarche October 15, and
will monitor the press and government for post-referendum
statements and reactions.
BALTIMORE