FURTHER RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000027 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/WCI AND NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2016 TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER PHUM PREF PINR MU SUBJECT: FURTHER RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE OF CERTAIN DETAINEES FROM GUANTANAMO REF: A. 05 MUSCAT 1846 ¶B. 05 STATE 215195 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires William R. Stewart. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) Subsequent to the Ambassador's December 5 meeting with MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi concerning the USG request for Omani assistance in resettling up to 15 Uighur detainees from Guatanamo (ref A),the Embassy reiterated the ref B request and background information to the Ministry in a written communication. On January 4, Humaid al-Maani, Deputy Chief of the MFA Under Secretary's Office, contacted Pol/Econ Chief in response to the written communication. ¶2. (C) Having taken the USG request under further review, al-Maani informed the Embassy that the Sultanate saw no way it could accommodate the Uighurs in a manner consistent with Omani law and obligations and therefore must decline the request. Al-Maani underscored the Sultanate's high regard for its mutually supportive bilateral relationship with the U.S., and regretted Oman could not be assistance in this particular instance. STEWART