EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/12/2005

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000070 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/OSAC, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/12/2005 REF: MUSCAT 0040 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 12 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC 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 January 12, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local and regional security situations. The EAC continued to characterize the former as stable, noting no new threat reporting specific to Oman. -------------- Emergency Action Functions -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The remainder of the meeting focused on updating Exhibit 121 (Emergency Action Functions) of Embassy Muscat's Emergency Action Plan ("EAP"). The update is in conjunction with the EAC's annual EAP review. -------------- Sustained Vigilance -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated that, despite the relative calm, members of the EAC must continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members the need for vigilance regarding all aspects of personal security, including the need to maintain a low profile and to remain unpredictable. RSO further re-emphasized the importance of immediately reporting all suspicious activity or security-related incidents to Post One. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The EAC concluded that there have been no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting held on January 8 (reftel),and that the Embassy's FPCON and already heightened security posture remain appropriate. Nonetheless, the EAC 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, RSO, P/E, CONS, MGT, DAO, OMC (USDR),and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE