OMAN PUBLIC STATEMENT SUPPORTS USG INITIATIVE TO

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000869 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/ES, NEA, NEA/IR, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPRC MNUC IR MU SUBJECT: OMAN PUBLIC STATEMENT SUPPORTS USG INITIATIVE TO IRAN REF: A. MUSCAT 868 ¶B. SECSTATE 87682 ¶1. (SBU) Per ref A assurance from FM Yusuf bin Alawi, the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a public statement June 1 welcoming the USG's May 31 proposal to open conditional negotiations with Iran (ref B). The statement, which follows, was reported by the government-owned Oman News Agency (ONA),and carried by all leading local media. ¶2. (U) Begin informal translation of the ONA report: "The Sultanate has expressed its welcome to the new U.S. stand regarding direct participation in the talks between the European Troika and the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the Iranian nuclear dossier. The statement added that the Sultanate of Oman sees in the new U.S. stand an encouraging step towards starting a serious effort to find a diplomatic solution and reduce the tension with the Islamic Republic of Iran and work with it toward building an atmosphere of trust. Building an atmosphere of trust will help find new directions towards resolving the Middle East crisis. We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran will cooperate with the international efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis." GRAPPO