"NO OBSTACLES" TO MEPI PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000763 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMPI KPAO SCUL SENV MU MEPI SUBJECT: "NO OBSTACLES" TO MEPI PARTNERSHIP -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) Alina Romanowski, Director of the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI),visited Oman May 3-4 to meet with top officials in the Ministries of Social Development, Higher Education, Education, and Foreign Affairs regarding MEPI programming. The positive tone of each meeting, and the requests for additional MEPI support conveyed by the officials, illustrate the progress MEPI has made in Oman and the opportunity for expansion. End summary. -------------- High-Level Access -------------- ¶2. (U) Accompanied by the Ambassador, MEPI Abu Dhabi Regional Office Director Hans Wechsel, and MEPI Education Manager Catherine Bourgeois, Alina Romanowski met with the Minister of Social Development Dr. Sharifa al-Yahyai, the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Rawiya al-Busaidi, the Minister of Education Yahya al-Sulaimi, and the Under Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi during her two-day visit to Oman. -------------- "No Obstacles" For MEPI -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Although some Omanis continue to view MEPI with suspicion, the tone of each meeting was very positive, no doubt based on the solid track record MEPI has established on the ground in Oman to this point. Both Ms. Romanowski and her interlocutors were able to point to specific MEPI programs already in place in Oman and the region. The Minister of Social Development referenced MEPI Small Grants recipients in Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan and Al-Qabil, while acknowledging that local NGO's could certainly improve their relationships with international counterparts. ¶4. (SBU) During her meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Ms. Romanowski highlighted the University Linkages Program underway at Muscat's Mazoon College. The Minister of Education -- who heads a ministry normally characterized as one of the more conservative in the country -- went so far as to say there were "no obstacles" to continuing MEPI education projects in Oman, specifically the Partnership Schools Program. MFA U/S Sayyid Badr advocated a more aggressive stance on MEPI's part in terms of suggesting programs for Omani entities. He cited Omanis' traditional reserve, rather than opposition to change, as explaining the reticence of some ministries to pursue an even more robust relationship with MEPI. -------------- Requests for Assistance -------------- ¶5. (U) Some of the Ministers came prepared with lists of additional requests for the MEPI office. Dr. Sharifa made repeated pleas for assistance with capacity building, particularly in the area of women's empowerment. Dr. Rawiya pulled out a piece of paper on which she had catalogued the four greatest needs of her ministry: quality assurance mechanisms, policy planning, project management and evaluation, and coordination with other ministries. Finally, the Minister of Education commented on the GLOBE program, and expressed his interest in Oman's participation. ¶6. (U) Comment: One conclusion to be drawn from these meetings is that some of the very highest-level officials in Oman's government have done their homework on MEPI, and are willing to be a partner with the U.S. in a multitude of areas. We will continue to pursue these opportunities, coordinating closely with MEPI Washington and the regional MEPI office in Abu Dhabi. BALTIMORE