EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/23/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000321 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/23/2005 REF: A. MUSCAT 0293 ¶B. MUSCAT 0280 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart. Reason: 1.4(c). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee February 23 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate. End Summary. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On February 23, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC continued to view as stable. The EAC noted no/no new threat reporting specific to Oman. -------------- MEAS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, both the Ambassador and RSO commented on the formidable security put into place by the Royal Oman Police for the Middle East Air Symposium ("MEAS"),which included high-level U.S. military participation. The MEAS, underway at the Grand Hyatt Muscat, is scheduled to culminate on January 23. (reftel B) -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the local security environment since the last meeting held on February 20 (reftel A),and that the Embassy's FPCON and already heightened security posture remain appropriate. Nonetheless, the EAC remains acutely aware of the need to monitor both the regional and local security and threat environments, and is prepared to take the necessary countermeasures should changes to either occur. ABM, DCM, MGT, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting, which preceded a meeting of the Visas Viper Committee. BALTIMORE