OMAN TO ATTEND IRAQ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000986 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID IZ MU SUBJECT: OMAN TO ATTEND IRAQ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE REF: A. SECSTATE 112917 ¶B. SECSTATE 111894 ¶C. MUSCAT 904 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Per refs A and B, on June 19, the Embassy delivered copies of the draft conference statement for the upcoming Iraq International Conference in Brussels to the Foreign Ministry, as well as the list of small-scale project suggestions that states may wish to fund to aid Iraq's reconstruction and transition. ¶2. (C) In a brief conversation June 19, Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, just returned from the NAM Summit in Doha, confirmed to the Ambassador that he will be representing Oman in Brussels. (Note: Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi will be in Singapore during the Brussels Conference, addressing the Asia-Middle East Dialogue. End note.) The Ambassador discreetly inquired as to whether the Sultanate will have anything to announce at the Brussels conference, to which the Under Secretary coyly replied "We will see." Asked about the invitation for Iraqi FM Zebari to visit Muscat (ref C), Sayyid Badr noted that he chatted with the Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister during the NAM Summit in Doha, and was told that Baghdad is still considering possible dates. The ball, he indicated, is in Iraq's court. (Note: Oman played host to visiting Iraqi Finance Minister Dr. Ali Allawi on June 13. End note.) BALTIMORE