IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS STATUS

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000034

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NP/MNA (MGOODMAN, SHART); NP/PPC (JSMITH)
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM TRGY PREL AORC OPDC XF MU ESTH
SUBJECT: IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS STATUS

REF: A. MUSCAT 2293

B. STATE 268150


1. (SBU) Following the Ambassador's December 27 discussion
with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi
to encourage Oman's bringing into force its IAEA safeguards
agreement and approving the Additional Protocol (ref A),
A/DCM also raised the matter in a January 5 meeting on other
issues with MFA Chief of International Organizations
Department, Ambassador Talib Miran al-Raisi. Talib Miran's
office is responsible for all multilateral agreements and
conventions.


2. (SBU) Asked for a status report, Talib Miran apologized
that he could not immediately reply as to the Additional
Protocol, noting that he recently had a change in his
personnel responsible for IAEA issues. He endeavored to
provide a later update. The safeguards agreement, he said,
was still under review by an interministerial committee
before final action could be taken. The Omani acknowledged
that the safeguards and Additional Protocol were not high
priorities for the Ministry given the fact that Oman had no
current plans or future intentions to seek nuclear
technologies. Drawing on ref B, A/DCM emphasized that
positive actions by all states, including Oman, were
essential in ensuring that the enhanced measures for nuclear
cooperation and non-proliferation become the new
international standard. Talib Miran was likewise informed
that the G-8 Foreign Ministers had addressed a direct appeal
to counterparts, and that the G-8 missions in Muscat will be
strongly encouraging the Ministry to finalize these two
actions.


3. (SBU) The Embassy will report any further developments,
and share the substance of this conversation with interested
G-8 missions (particularly UK and Japan).
BALTIMORE