OMAN QUESTIONS NEVADA TEST EXPLOSION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000879

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR ISM/MNSA, ISN/RA, VCI/NA, INR/B, AND NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR NNSA/NA-1 (AMB. L. BROOKS AND DR. J. HARVEY)
DOD FOR ATSD/NCB (DR. KLEIN),DTRA/RD (DR. NANOS, DR.
LINGER)
DOD ALSO FOR OSD/ISP/CBTWMD (DR. J. BLADY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL KTBT KTIA PINR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN QUESTIONS NEVADA TEST EXPLOSION

REF: A. STATE 52643


B. RAY-GRIMM E-MAIL OF 2 JUNE 2006


1. (SBU) In a June 4 meeting requested by MFA Disarmament
Affairs officer Abdullah al-Riyami, Pol/Econ Chief addressed
a number of Omani concerns regarding the high explosives test
previously scheduled to take place in Nevada on June 6 known
as "Divine Strake" (ref A). Al-Riyami specifically inquired
whether the test will involve a nuclear detonation, and
whether this signaled the USG's desire to withdraw from the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Drawing from the
Embassy's April note to the Ministry explaining these
details, P/E Chief assured al-Riyami that the test is not/not
unconventional and that the USG remains fully committed to
its treaty obligations.


2. (SBU) P/E Chief noted, however, that the date of the test
was postponed by decision of the U.S. Department of Energy
(ref B) for further study of the potential environmental
impact, and that the test would be rescheduled for no sooner
than June 23. Al-Riyami requested to be informed of the new
test date as soon as it is known.


3. (SBU) Bio Note: Al-Riyami is new to the disarmament
portfolio at MFA, having only recently returned to Muscat
from an overseas posting in Bangladesh (2002-2005). Prior to
that, he was the USA desk officer in MFA's Europe and North
America Department, during which time he appears to have
developed an affinity for the U.S. He has been selected to
take part in a 95-day UN training fellowship on disarmament
issues to start in September in New York and Vienna.
Al-Riyami hails from the city of Nizwa in Oman's interior
Dakhaliya region, and speaks fair English.
GRAPPO