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). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶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. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶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. -------------- Sustained Vigilance -------------- ¶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. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶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