SULTAN QABOOS TO NEW OMAN MAJLIS: STATUS QUO JUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001034 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MU SUBJECT: SULTAN QABOOS TO NEW OMAN MAJLIS: STATUS QUO JUST FINE REF: A. MUSCAT 1026 ¶B. MUSCAT 992 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo, reasons 1.4 (b, d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Sultan Qaboos delivered his annual address opening the Majlis Oman on November 6. During the relatively rare public speaking engagement, the Sultan tipped his hat to the work of the Majlis and expressed appreciation for voter participation in the recent national elections (refs A, B). However, the Sultan offered little in terms of new ideas or additional powers for the consultative body, apparently opting to stay with the status quo. Briefly addressing foreign policy, he reiterated Oman's adherence to "coexistence" and "positive constructive dialogue" without mentioning specific issues. End Summary. -------------- Sultan: Majlis Matters -------------- ¶2. (U) On November 6, Sultan Qaboos bin Said delivered his annual speech before the Majlis Oman, the Sultanate's bicameral consultative body. (Note: Originally founded in 1981 as a single appointed chamber, the lower house of the Majlis Oman -- the Majlis al-Shura -- was added in 1991 and is now directly elected. End Note.) Senior members of the royal family, cabinet ministers, armed forces commanders, senior tribal shiekhs and the diplomatic corps were also in attendance. During his seven minute presentation, the Sultan expressed satisfaction with Oman's experience with the Majlis, stating that it had succeeded in establishing "mutual cooperation" between Omani citizens and "the state's administrative institutions." He further remarked that the Majlis had aided the Sultanate's rapid economic and social progress through preparing studies, "reviewing laws and regulations," and "putting forward recommendations ... on issues of concern to society." ¶3. (U) Turning to the future, the Sultan urged the government to "raise and intensify its contacts" with the Majlis Oman, and stated that he expected the consultative body -- and the Majlis al-Shura in particular -- would "take on more comprehensive responsibilities in the fields of economic and social development." He declined, however, to say when or how this would be accomplished. -------------- Praise for Elections -------------- ¶4. (U) Regarding the October 27 national voting for the Majlis al-Shura (refs A, B),the Sultan commented that he was greatly pleased that the election had been conducted in "a well-organized manner" and in "an atmosphere of calm and security." This was clear evidence, he claimed, of Omanis' commitment to the values of a "decent, upright society." He also declared that he highly appreciated "the huge turn out of all citizens, male and female" in casting votes at the polls, and affirmed the right of Omanis to choose Majlis al-Shura representatives. -------------- Stability and Cooperation -------------- ¶5. (U) Briefly focusing on domestic and foreign policy, but without mentioning specific issues, the Sultan reiterated his adherence to the principles of peace and stability. Oman would continue to promote "construction and development at home," stated the Sultan, while it would work to advance abroad "friendship and peace, justice and harmony, coexistence and understanding, and positive constructive dialogue." -------------- Status Quo Prevails -------------- ¶6. (C) Comment: The Sultan's speech remained firmly rooted in generalities and, despite the predictions of some observers, contained no new mandates to strengthen the relatively weak hand of the Majlis Oman. The Sultan appeared to be in good health during the delivery of one of the few public speeches he makes each year. The audience was overwhelmingly male; however, state-run television took great pains to include ample shots of the three women ministers and the 14 female members of the Majlis al-Dawla (the appointed MUSCAT 00001034 002 OF 002 upper house) in attendance. A new wrinkle to the ceremonial occasion included follow-on speeches from the chairmen of the two chambers, who mostly praised the Sultan for his visionary leadership and confidence in the Majlis. ¶7. (C) Comment continued: Long on ceremony and short on substance, the event was all too predictable for Omanis hoping for a change, especially in the function of Oman's Majlis. Several members told the Ambassador just prior to the Sultan's remarks that they were cautiously hopeful of some new initiatives directed at the Majlis from the Sultan. The same members were seen darting for the exits at ceremony's end, avoiding inquiring members of the diplomatic corps and the handful of foreign journalists looking for a post-event soundbite. Oman's crawl to more representative government inches forward, meticulously well organized but barely perceptible. End Comment. GRAPPO