OMAN PRESSURES SARG ON LEBANON WITHDRAWAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000364 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2015 TAGS: PREL SY LE EG MU SUBJECT: OMAN PRESSURES SARG ON LEBANON WITHDRAWAL Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi convoked the Ambassador on February 28, just prior to departing for the March 1 London Conference on Palestine, to recount the steps he had taken to encourage Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. He said that Egypt had sought his help to send a strong signal to Damascus. As a result, the Minister drafted a note to Syrian FM Shara'a (followed-up with a phone call) in which he: -- urged Syria's withdrawal from Lebanese territory; -- suggested that the SARG cease sending mixed signals on its intentions (noting conflicting statements from the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs) by convening all the Ambassadors resident in Damascus making Syrian policy in Lebanon clear, and -- recommended that Shara'a ask to be invited to the London Conference if they were not already included. ¶2. (C) Bin Alawi said Shara'a responded that he would be willing to attend the London Conference in person, but apparently his decision came too late for an invitation to be issued. Bin Alawi was nevertheless buoyant that the SARG seemed to be taking a constructive and positive approach in response to Oman's suggestions. ¶3. (C) Comment: Bin Alawi's actions are very Omani in that he prefers to act behind the scenes and quietly. While Oman is not known to have particularly close ties to Syria, its relationship with Egypt is strong, buttressed by the warm personal relations between the Sultan and President Mubarak. End comment. BALTIMORE