Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MUSCAT227
2007-03-06 11:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMANI REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATE REPORT ON JANUARY
how-toVZCZCXRO6811 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #0227 0651138 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061138Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7906 INFO RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0043 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000227
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP MARR MU
SUBJECT: OMANI REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATE REPORT ON JANUARY
ACCIDENT IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000227
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP MARR MU
SUBJECT: OMANI REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATE REPORT ON JANUARY
ACCIDENT IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) Embassy Muscat recently received a diplomatic note,
dated February 28, 2007, from the Omani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs regarding the January 8, 2007 collision of a U.S.
military submarine and a Japanese oil tanker near the Strait
of Hormuz. An informal translation of the operative text of
the note verbale follows (a copy of the note will be sent
electronically to NEA/ARP):
"This is in reference to the accident involving the American
nuclear-powered submarine (Newport) and the Japanese oil
tanker (Moga Megwatta) to the east of the Musandam
Governorate in Omani territorial waters on January 8, 2007.
Recalling article (1) of the Royal Decree (15/81) providing
for innocent passage through the Strait, and the Sultanate's
declaration following its ratification, in August 1989, of
the UN Law of the Sea (1982),requiring advance notification
prior to entering territorial waters to ensure innocent
passage of naval vessels, nuclear-powered vessels, and
vessels carrying nuclear materials, and since the American
submarine did not provide notice before entering Omani
territorial waters, this is considered a violation of
national legislation and could have caused an environmental
catastrophe in the region. Therefore, the Ministry requests
the Embassy to provide details and results of the
investigation of the incident that took place in Omani
territorial waters."
3. (SBU) Post understands that the Department is currently
working with the Department of Defense to prepare a formal
response - to be cleared through an interagency process - to
the Omani request that will also address the claim that the
submarine was operating in violation of Omani law. We are
prepared to help provide additional information needed to
draft this response.
4. (C) Action Request: Post seeks guidance on how to
respond to this request from the Omani government. Post
wishes to be responsive to the Omani request for information
about the accident without acknowledging/accepting Oman's
application of the UN Law of the Sea with regard to advance
notification of passage of U.S. naval vessels through the
Strait of Hormuz. End Action Request.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND L/OES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP MARR MU
SUBJECT: OMANI REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATE REPORT ON JANUARY
ACCIDENT IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) Embassy Muscat recently received a diplomatic note,
dated February 28, 2007, from the Omani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs regarding the January 8, 2007 collision of a U.S.
military submarine and a Japanese oil tanker near the Strait
of Hormuz. An informal translation of the operative text of
the note verbale follows (a copy of the note will be sent
electronically to NEA/ARP):
"This is in reference to the accident involving the American
nuclear-powered submarine (Newport) and the Japanese oil
tanker (Moga Megwatta) to the east of the Musandam
Governorate in Omani territorial waters on January 8, 2007.
Recalling article (1) of the Royal Decree (15/81) providing
for innocent passage through the Strait, and the Sultanate's
declaration following its ratification, in August 1989, of
the UN Law of the Sea (1982),requiring advance notification
prior to entering territorial waters to ensure innocent
passage of naval vessels, nuclear-powered vessels, and
vessels carrying nuclear materials, and since the American
submarine did not provide notice before entering Omani
territorial waters, this is considered a violation of
national legislation and could have caused an environmental
catastrophe in the region. Therefore, the Ministry requests
the Embassy to provide details and results of the
investigation of the incident that took place in Omani
territorial waters."
3. (SBU) Post understands that the Department is currently
working with the Department of Defense to prepare a formal
response - to be cleared through an interagency process - to
the Omani request that will also address the claim that the
submarine was operating in violation of Omani law. We are
prepared to help provide additional information needed to
draft this response.
4. (C) Action Request: Post seeks guidance on how to
respond to this request from the Omani government. Post
wishes to be responsive to the Omani request for information
about the accident without acknowledging/accepting Oman's
application of the UN Law of the Sea with regard to advance
notification of passage of U.S. naval vessels through the
Strait of Hormuz. End Action Request.
GRAPPO