Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MUSCAT137
2007-02-12 11:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON SOMALIA
how-toVZCZCXRO4724 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0137 0431139 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121139Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7797 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0020 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0005 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0032
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, AF/E AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON SOMALIA
REF: A. STATE 15727
B. MUSCAT 103 (NOTAL)
C. STATE 11993
Classified By: DCM Alfred A. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, AF/E AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON SOMALIA
REF: A. STATE 15727
B. MUSCAT 103 (NOTAL)
C. STATE 11993
Classified By: DCM Alfred A. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) During a February 11 meeting with Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi, the
Ambassador delivered the U.S. response to the Omani-Saudi
proposal to convene a regional foreign ministers' meeting on
Somalia (refs A and B),and also raised ref C points seeking
support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Bin Alawi said that he understood why the U.S. recommended
expanding the invitation list for the conference, but
stressed that including more participants would make the
conference "too big" and thereby lessen the chances for a
productive outcome. He further noted that Saudi Arabia would
"not permit" Libya to be present. Bin Alawi added, however,
that follow-up conferences or activities could include
participation from additional countries or institutions such
as the African Union.
2. (C) Regarding AMISOM, bin Alawi questioned whether a
troop contingent of 8,000 was truly warranted in Somalia --
"even 10,000 or more can't do everything." (Note: Bin Alawi
did not cite or indicate the basis for these numbers. End
Note.) While acknowledging the need for troops in Mogadishu
to replace Ethiopian forces, he claimed that "the least
number (of soldiers) to be effective" should be deployed in
order to control costs and help avoid charges of excessive
foreign interference. The Ambassador responded that a robust
stabilization force was urgently required to restore and
maintain order, and that a drawdown of troops could occur as
needed after deployment. Bin Alawi emphasized that any
deployment of foreign troops must go hand-in-hand with a
political plan to achieve stability in Somalia. He added
that Oman would support a donor conference for Somalia if
sufficient progress was made on ending violence and
establishing a broadly representative government.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA, AF/E AND AF/RSA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS SO MU
SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON SOMALIA
REF: A. STATE 15727
B. MUSCAT 103 (NOTAL)
C. STATE 11993
Classified By: DCM Alfred A. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) During a February 11 meeting with Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi, the
Ambassador delivered the U.S. response to the Omani-Saudi
proposal to convene a regional foreign ministers' meeting on
Somalia (refs A and B),and also raised ref C points seeking
support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Bin Alawi said that he understood why the U.S. recommended
expanding the invitation list for the conference, but
stressed that including more participants would make the
conference "too big" and thereby lessen the chances for a
productive outcome. He further noted that Saudi Arabia would
"not permit" Libya to be present. Bin Alawi added, however,
that follow-up conferences or activities could include
participation from additional countries or institutions such
as the African Union.
2. (C) Regarding AMISOM, bin Alawi questioned whether a
troop contingent of 8,000 was truly warranted in Somalia --
"even 10,000 or more can't do everything." (Note: Bin Alawi
did not cite or indicate the basis for these numbers. End
Note.) While acknowledging the need for troops in Mogadishu
to replace Ethiopian forces, he claimed that "the least
number (of soldiers) to be effective" should be deployed in
order to control costs and help avoid charges of excessive
foreign interference. The Ambassador responded that a robust
stabilization force was urgently required to restore and
maintain order, and that a drawdown of troops could occur as
needed after deployment. Bin Alawi emphasized that any
deployment of foreign troops must go hand-in-hand with a
political plan to achieve stability in Somalia. He added
that Oman would support a donor conference for Somalia if
sufficient progress was made on ending violence and
establishing a broadly representative government.
GRAPPO