EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/30/2005

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000533

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 - 03/30/2005

REF: MUSCAT 0492

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 Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of
the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) March 30 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 30, the Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a
meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee 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.
No/no new threat reporting was noted specific to Oman.
Likewise, members cited no untoward incidents related to the
Easter period or the visit of the Queen Elizabeth II cruise
liner to the ports of Muscat and Salalah and March 27/28 and
29/30, respectively.

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Emergency Preparedness
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3. (SBU) The DCM led a discussion of lessons learned from
the unannounced Embassy-wide fire drill held on March 30.
RSO commented on the drill's overall effectiveness and solid
participation. Embassy Muscat will maintain its increased
drilling tempo in all areas of emergency preparedness.

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Sustained Vigilance
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4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, 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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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 22 (reftel). 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. DCM, P/E,
A/MGT, RSO, RMAS, CONS (Duty Officer),DAO, OMC (USDR),and
ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting.
BALTIMORE