PSI: FM CLARIFIES OMAN'S VIEWS

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000330

SIPDIS

STATE FOR T, NP/RA, PM, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI
SECDEF FOR OUSD(P)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2015
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP EWWT MASS MU
SUBJECT: PSI: FM CLARIFIES OMAN'S VIEWS

REF: MUSCAT 279 AND PREVIOUS

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


1. (S) In a February 27 telcon on various subjects, the
Ambassador sought clarification from Minister Responsible for
Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi on the Omani government's
attitude toward the Proliferation Security Initiative
following its communication of February 9 (reftels).


2. (S) The Minister reassured the Ambassador that Oman
"agrees 100 percent" with the principles and voluntary
arrangements embodied in PSI. The Ministry's note verbale of
February 9, he explained, was not a change of heart. It
merely reflected the fact that there was no formal PSI
agreement to be signed or convention to be ratified. Bin
Alawi reiterated the government's united position on the need
to combat proliferation, saying that in the event that the
USG were to inform Muscat of a suspicious vessel near Oman's
waters, the Sultanate would "cooperate in full" to inspection
it.

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Comment
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3. (S) The Minister's explanation of Oman's PSI stance tracks
much more closely with its actions on the ground than did the
February 9 note verbale. In addition to the Minister's
prompt reassurances, we further note that a PSI-related air
interdiction exercise (a first for the region) successfully
took place within the framework of a broader Omani-Coalition
air exercise in Thumrait on February 23.
BALTIMORE