OMAN FEEDBACK: PROLIFERATION AWARENESS TRAINING

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000449 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/ECC (V. PIKOULAS),NEA/ARPI (S. STEINGER) EMBASSY AMMAN FOR J. IRVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC PARM KNNP KSTC PREL MU SUBJECT: OMAN FEEDBACK: PROLIFERATION AWARENESS TRAINING REF: SECSTATE 22746 ¶1. (U) This is an action request for ISN/ECC - please see para 6. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (SBU) While the recent EXBS-sponsored Proliferation Awareness Technical Exchange (PAT) workshop raised awareness of proliferation materials, participants were keen on getting more practical experience in identifying WMD. The Embassy suggests that future EXBS programming focus on already identified vulnerabilities, and in training in inspection/interdiction techniques, as well as targeting and risk analysis. END SUMMARY -------------- Proliferation Awareness Training -------------- ¶3. (U) On March 6-8, the State Department's Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program sponsored the Proliferation Awareness Technical Exchange (PAT) workshop in Muscat, carried out by Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP). Approximately 10 government officials attended, representing the Royal Oman Police Customs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. While the course provided an awareness of proliferation materials of concern, similar to past training, participants were keen on getting more hands-on experience in identifying WMD, and less interested in understanding the essential components of a national control regime. (Note: Oman currently lacks a comprehensive export control list for items other than chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and munitions, and has no near-term plans to develop a more comprehensive national control list. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) The participants were fully engaged, closely identifying with the experienced CTP lead, a retired US Customs officer. While the course provided a broad awareness of multilateral control regimes and their benefits to national security, participants were primarily interested in the customs-related aspects of the training, such as learning techniques in identification of WMD material and investigative procedures. Participants were also interested in how to inspect goods for missile technology and how to detect chemical weapons in unlabeled containers. -------------- SUGGESTIONS AND FEEDBACK -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Participants were pleased with the training and commented on the particular value of the sessions that discussed how to verify import/export documents and the advanced computer software now available for research and identification, including the Product Identification Tool (PIT) and the Product Information Search Engine (PISE). However, as in previous training sessions, participants strongly prefer hands-on exercises at Omani or U.S. ports to work with WMD material and practice identification and crisis response. -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶6. (SBU) As EXBS programming moves forward in Oman, the Embassy strongly suggests reconsidering the Advanced Legal/Regulatory Training and the Export Licensing workshops tentatively scheduled for the spring. Given the lack of clear direction for developing export controls in the Sultanate, another workshop on this topic is unlikely to be constructive at this time. The Embassy requests that EXBS instead focus on already identified vulnerabilities in transit and import, including training in inspection/interdiction techniques as well as targeting and risk analysis. STEWART