ENVIRONMENTAL MOU SIGNED

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000296

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, OES/ENV (BCATES)
STATE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
AMMAN FOR EST HUB (JWHITTLESEY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD PREL KPAO MU ESTH
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL MOU SIGNED

REF: CATES-GRIMM EMAIL OF 2/25/06


1. (SBU) Ambassador and Under Secretary of Commerce and
Industry Ahmad bin Hassan al-Dheeb signed the Free Trade
Agreement (FTA)-related Memorandum of Understanding on
Environmental Cooperation (MoU) during a February 26 ceremony
at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). While other
MOCI officials were on hand for the ceremony, absent "due to
a last-minute commitment" was Muhammad bin Khamis al-Araimi,
Under Secretary for the Ministry of Regional Municipalities,
Environment, and Water Resources (MRMEWR).


2. (U) The signing ceremony received widespread and favorable
local media coverage. During the press briefing, the
Ambassador expressed the importance of the MoU in protecting
the environment while promoting sustainable development as
the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement expands bilateral trade.
He noted that the MoU provides both sides a formal framework
to deepen environmental cooperation, as recently evidenced by
the February Gulf Seismic Forum (septel) and the upcoming
Fourth Meeting of the Signatory States of the Memorandum of
Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine
Turtles and Their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East
Asia.


3. (U) Per ref request, Embassy will pouch the signed
documents to OES/ENV.
BALTIMORE