LONDON CONFERENCE FOR AFGHANISTAN: OMAN ATTENDANCE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000094

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV AF MU
SUBJECT: LONDON CONFERENCE FOR AFGHANISTAN: OMAN ATTENDANCE

REF: A. SECSTATE 10953

B. SECSTATE 03627


1. (U) The Embassy delivered demarche and background papers
(reftels) to the Foreign Ministry on January 25, encouraging
Oman's attendance at the London Conference and pledge for
Afghanistan reconstruction.


2. (SBU) UK Deputy Head of Mission Charles Hill informed us
on January 24 of his ongoing communications with the MFA
about the conference. Regarding attendance, he noted that
London invited states' participation in two tiers: as
participants and as observers, with the Afghanistan
government advising the UK which states belong in which tier.
Per Kabul's request, Oman was invited to the London
Conference only at the observer level, and will therefore be
represented by the Omani ambassador in London. With the help
of that Omani ambassador, the UK embassy in Muscat has been
prodding the MFA for an Omani financial pledge. Hill said
that the MFA recently assured him that it has finally
received authorization to make a pledge in London, though the
Ministry would not reveal the amount. The UK embassy expects
(as do we) that the pledge will be fairly modest.
BALTIMORE