PSI: EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000553 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NP, AC, T, NEA, NEA/ARPI GCC COLLECTIVE PLEASE PASS TO T DELEGATION E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 TAGS: PARM KNNP MNUC PGOV PHSA PREL MU SUBJECT: PSI: EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST REF: SECSTATE 50792 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) With other Omani officials unavailable to receive reftel demarche, Pol/Econ Chief raised the points on April 4 with Mohammed al-Hassan, Political Affairs Director for FM Yusuf bin Alawi. Taking on board the USG's points and pledging to pass them directly to the Minister, al-Hassan observed that it is out of character for the Omani government to come out publicly on something like PSI, particularly for an issue as prone as this to "misinterpretation by the public." He underscored that the USG had received assurances "from the lion's mouth" (i.e., directly from the Minister) of Oman's commitment to PSI principles, and that such an assurance was iron-clad. Al-Hassan reiterated Oman's consistent and unblemished record of support for NPT and nonproliferation principles, noting that the Sultanate had also recently received a letter from UN Secretary General Annan on this topic. He said Oman's response to UNSYG would be similarly supportive of NPT and nonproliferation. ¶2. (C) Comment: MFA's penchant for confidentiality notwithstanding, Under Secretary Joseph's delegation may wish to request during their meeting with Minister bin Alawi on April 9 that MFA's press release regarding their meeting make mention of "shared concerns on nonproliferation," if not PSI specifically. GRAPPO