QABOOS PUBLICLY HAILS NEW IRAQI PRESIDENT

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000581 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/I, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID IZ MU SUBJECT: QABOOS PUBLICLY HAILS NEW IRAQI PRESIDENT ¶1. (U) Sultan Qaboos sent a congratulatory cable of greetings on April 8 to Jalal Talabani on the occasion of his election as president of Iraq, "wishing him good health and success in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Iraq for stability, progress and prosperity," according to the Oman News Agency. The Sultan sent a similar message to new Iraqi PM Ibrahim Jaafari. ¶2. (SBU) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi had previously assured the Ambassador that Oman would be among the first to congratulate a new Iraqi government. Having now come through on that pledge, we will watch to see if disbursal of Oman's Iraq reconstruction pledge (approximately USD 5 million) is likewise soon fulfilled. BALTIMORE