Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1736
2006-12-27 12:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES THOUGHTS ON SOMALIA
how-toVZCZCXRO4591 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #1736 3611250 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 271250Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7597 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0018 RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 0010 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0013 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0001 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0029 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 0790
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001736
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES THOUGHTS ON SOMALIA
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001736
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES THOUGHTS ON SOMALIA
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin
Alawi told Ambassador on December 24 that Oman was not
directly involved in efforts to resolve conflicts in either
Somalia or Sudan. The Omani government does, however,
strongly support Arab League (AL) endeavors to quell violence
in both countries. Bin Alawi noted that although former
Omani diplomat Salim al-Khusaibi continues to work for the AL
on Somalia, his activities are independent of direction from
Muscat.
2. (C) Bin Alawi claimed that the Union of Islamic Courts
(UIC) in Somalia could be "controlled" through diplomacy, and
advised against "pushing them into a corner." He said that
there were many "moderate" Islamists in Somalia, but added
that Al Qaida "may have penetrated" the Islamic movement
there. Bin Alawi commented that the transitional Somali
government, which he characterized as "very weak," should
join with moderate Islamic leaders to form "some sort of
coalition" to help restore order. He further counseled that
elections should be held in Somalia "in two to three years"
to install a functioning, national government. If events
continued to spiral out of control, bin Alawi feared that
Somalia could "become another Afghanistan" and fuel
instability in Yemen. While there currently were few Somali
refugees in Oman, bin Alawi said that widespread violence in
Somalia could greatly increase this number. (Note: Somalis
in Oman generally enter by land from Yemen. End Note.)
3. (C) Bin Alawi stated that the AL did not yet have a firm
position on how to resolve the conflict in Somalia, though he
noted that the League was trying to bring representatives of
the UIC and transitional government together for talks in
Khartoum. "The transitional government has to listen," he
asserted. Given Ethiopia's military intervention in Somalia,
and the possibility of Eritrean involvement, bin Alawi feared
the outbreak of another Ethiopian-Eritrean war "which would
make matters even worse." According to bin Alawi, an envoy
from Ethiopia was planning to come to Muscat for talks with
Sultan Qaboos and senior Omani officials.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES THOUGHTS ON SOMALIA
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin
Alawi told Ambassador on December 24 that Oman was not
directly involved in efforts to resolve conflicts in either
Somalia or Sudan. The Omani government does, however,
strongly support Arab League (AL) endeavors to quell violence
in both countries. Bin Alawi noted that although former
Omani diplomat Salim al-Khusaibi continues to work for the AL
on Somalia, his activities are independent of direction from
Muscat.
2. (C) Bin Alawi claimed that the Union of Islamic Courts
(UIC) in Somalia could be "controlled" through diplomacy, and
advised against "pushing them into a corner." He said that
there were many "moderate" Islamists in Somalia, but added
that Al Qaida "may have penetrated" the Islamic movement
there. Bin Alawi commented that the transitional Somali
government, which he characterized as "very weak," should
join with moderate Islamic leaders to form "some sort of
coalition" to help restore order. He further counseled that
elections should be held in Somalia "in two to three years"
to install a functioning, national government. If events
continued to spiral out of control, bin Alawi feared that
Somalia could "become another Afghanistan" and fuel
instability in Yemen. While there currently were few Somali
refugees in Oman, bin Alawi said that widespread violence in
Somalia could greatly increase this number. (Note: Somalis
in Oman generally enter by land from Yemen. End Note.)
3. (C) Bin Alawi stated that the AL did not yet have a firm
position on how to resolve the conflict in Somalia, though he
noted that the League was trying to bring representatives of
the UIC and transitional government together for talks in
Khartoum. "The transitional government has to listen," he
asserted. Given Ethiopia's military intervention in Somalia,
and the possibility of Eritrean involvement, bin Alawi feared
the outbreak of another Ethiopian-Eritrean war "which would
make matters even worse." According to bin Alawi, an envoy
from Ethiopia was planning to come to Muscat for talks with
Sultan Qaboos and senior Omani officials.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
GRAPPO