EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/16/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000467

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 - 03/16/2005

REF: A. SECSTATE 45093


B. MUSCAT 0442

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission William R. Stewart.
Reason: 1.4(c).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core
Emergency Action Committee March 16 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.

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Security Environment
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2. (SBU) On March 16, 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 characterize as stable.
Likewise, members of the EAC noted no/no new threat
reporting specific to Oman.


3. (U) RSO briefed the EAC on the March 14 Middle East and
North Africa Public Announcement (reftel A),updated to alert
Americans to ongoing security concerns in the region. RSO
confirmed that the Public Announcement was distributed via
Consular Warden Message to both the official and private
American citizen communities.

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Sustained Vigilance
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4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, and referencing
the aforementioned Middle East and North Africa Public
Announcement, RSO reiterated that members of the EAC must
continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members
the need for vigilance regarding all aspects of personal
security. RSO further re-emphasized the importance of
immediately reporting all suspicious activity or
security-related incidents to Post One.

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EAC Conclusion
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5. (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
March 12 (reftel B). Accordingly, members agreed that the
Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON
remain appropriate. Embassy Muscat 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. AMB, DCM,
P/E, A/MGT, RSO, ARSO (Duty Officer),RMAS, DAO, OMC (USDR),
and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE