C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001267

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2016
TAGS: PREL UNSC MU
SUBJECT: GUATEMALAN CANDIDACY FOR UNSC SEAT: OMAN

REF: A. MUSCAT 01259

B. MUSCAT 01000

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo. Reason: 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) In a meeting August 27 with Omani Foreign Ministry
Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, the Ambassador noted
the recent visit of a Venezuelan envoy to Muscat (ref A) and
asked about Oman's position on the contested election for a
UN Security Council Seat between Venezuela and Guatemala.
Al-Busaidi confirmed that representatives from both Venezuela
and Guatemala had visited Oman to lobby for their respective
candidacies, and stated that Oman had not yet decided how it
would vote.


2. (C) The Ambassador reminded al-Busaidi that Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi had said it
was highly unlikely that Oman would vote for Venezuela (ref
B). The Ambassador also stressed the importance to the U.S.
of Guatemala's successful candidacy for the UNSC seat, and
offered to provide additional information upon request to
support Guatemala's bid. Al-Busaidi replied that a
"majority" of Arab governments might look at the election
through the prism of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which would
make Venezuela a more attractive candidate. He nevertheless
promised to strongly consider our request to vote for
Guatemala.


3. (C) The Ambassador will follow-up again on this issue
with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs bin Alawi when
the Minister returns to Muscat from vacation.
GRAPPO