STATUS OF COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000035

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, IO, NEA/ARPI
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC MU
SUBJECT: STATUS OF COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS

REF: A. 04 MUSCAT 2269


B. 04 STATE 269653

Classified By: Michael Snowden, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission.
Reason: 1.4 (b, d).


1. (C) Following the Ambassador's December 27 conversation
with the Foreign Minister (ref A),A/DCM reiterated the
importance of Oman's ratifying the final two of twelve
international counterterrorism conventions (ref B) in a
January 5 meeting with MFA International Organizations
Department Chief Ambassador Talib Miran al-Raisi. In a
slight change to the usual MFA talking point that the two
conventions would be ready "soon," Talib Miran reported that
the MFA's technical studies of the two texts were finished
and that they had been forwarded to the Ministry of Legal
Affairs for review. "They are out of our hands," he said.


2. (C) A/DCM pointed out that the G-8 Counterterrorism Action
Group (CTAG) was going to focus on the Middle East region in
its April meeting (according to the local UK Embassy),and
that the resident G-8 Ambassadors would be strongly
encouraging Oman's bringing the two outstanding conventions
into force as soon as possible. Noting that a collective G-8
demarche on the Legal Affairs Minister could be in order,
A/DCM urged the MFA's support in concluding Omani government
action on the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing
of Terrorism and the Convention of the Suppression of
Terrorist Bombings.


3. (SBU) The Embassy will report any further developments on
these conventions, and share the substance of this
conversation with interested G-8 embassies (particularly the
UK as current CTAG chair).
BALTIMORE