SAUDI KING ABDULLAH'S VISIT TO MUSCAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001728

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/26/2016
TAGS: PREL SA MU
SUBJECT: SAUDI KING ABDULLAH'S VISIT TO MUSCAT

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


1. (C) During a December 24 meeting with Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi to discuss a
range of regional issues (septels),Ambassador inquired about
the visit of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud to
Oman. Bin Alawi stated that King Abdullah, who arrived to a
red carpet welcome in Muscat on December 23, had not come to
Oman to discuss any particular issue or in response to any
perceived bilateral irritant. "Things are very good between
us," he asserted. Bin Alawi noted that Saudi Arabia and Oman
had recently announced their intent to open a border-crossing
point along a new highway linking the two countries. While
the Omani portion of the road was complete, bin Alawi said
that roadwork on the Saudi side - including construction in
the Rub al-Khali - "will take some time."


2. (C) Bin Alawi commented that a sitting Saudi monarch had
not come to Oman since King Fahd's visit "over 20 years ago."
The present King of Saudi Arabia had come to Muscat in 1985
while he was the Crown Prince, as well as one other
subsequent time to represent the King (his late half-brother)
at a GCC Summit. According to bin Alawi, Sultan Qaboos would
"occasionally" meet with the Saudi King and/or Crown Prince
during private visits to Saudi Arabia.
GRAPPO