MEDIA REACTION: FTA AND OMANI PAY RAISE, CRITICISM OF

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001726 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: FTA AND OMANI PAY RAISE, CRITICISM OF SHUTTERED WEBSITE, SAUDI STATE VISIT TO OMAN ¶1. SUMMARY: Privately owned "Al-Watan" ties a royal decree raising civil-service wages to Oman's international economic policies including the U.S-Oman FTA; the same paper also criticizes closed Internet forum forum "Al-Sablah" for "crossing red lines." As Saudi King Abdullah visits Oman, state-owned daily "Oman" hails "strong" bilateral relations and expresses hope for a solution to regional crises. END SUMMARY. -------------- COVERAGE -------------- ¶2. All Omani dailies carried front page photographs of Saudi King Abdullah and his delegation on their state visit to Oman. -------------- - BLOCK QUOTES: NATIONAL PAY RAISE A "WISE STEP" -------------- - ¶3. Privately owned "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) on December 20 highlighted the civil-service pay raise, saying "Thank You Your Majesty": "His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has always ensured that the Omani citizen is the basis of development and its goal, and in doing so he affirms that the country's development is a continuous process. However, any process is challenged by unexpected factors like the increase of living expenses, which is a result of changes in the economy and the global market that the Sultanate is a part of. We are part of this huge world and its economic policies, which related to the legal framework of the World Trade Organization that Oman joined in 2000. Oman has been very keen to merge its economy into the international economy, thus the Free Trade Agreement with the United States... The combination of the above factors has led to an increase in living standards and consumption, to the extent that the state has had to intervene to bring things into balance. The decision to grant a 15% increase to all civilian employees in various government institutions was a wise step by the Sultan." -------------- OMANI WEB FORUM "CROSSED RED LINES" -------------- ¶4. On December 20 "Al-Watan" criticized Oman's popular "Al Sablah" discussion forum, calling it "An Electronic Hiding Place": "Al Sablah was an important electronic channel for individuals to learn about domestic developments, but it crossed a red line when it started to defame peoples' reputation. It went beyond even that when it initiated discussion about sectarian and minority issues, discussions that are prohibited by religion and law. It also interfered with other countries' internal affairs and defamed their people. This electronic media provided a forum for anyone, even those with no journalistic training, to discuss the lives of others without any moral limits." -------------- PRAISE FOR "STRONG" OMANI-SAUDI TIES -------------- ¶5. On December 24, state-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) extolled "Strong Omani-Saudi Relations" in connection with the visit of King Abdullah: "King Abdullah's visit is important for two reasons. First, it is the beginning of deeper relations between the two countries in all areas... Relations will extend to the private sector and the opportunities to invest in Oman's booming economy. Second, the visit demonstrates the ability of the two countries to play a vital role in efforts to contain regional tensions. It is natural that many in the region are looking to these meetings as a step towards solving challenging issues in a peaceful way that will enhance regional stability. GRAPPO