OMAN CONSIDERS JOINING GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000305 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/WMDT, AND T (T. KATSAPIS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017 TAGS: PARM PREL PTER KNNP MU SUBJECT: OMAN CONSIDERS JOINING GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM REF: A. MUSCAT 201 ¶B. MUSCAT 136 ¶C. FRANCESCHI/CARLSON E-MAIL OF 3/23/07 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief met on March 21 with Mohammad Al-Hassan, Deputy Director of the Office of Political Affairs for Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs bin Alawi, and Abdullah al-Riyami, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department at the MFA, to continue ongoing discussions (refs A, B) on the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (Global Initiative). Hassan stated that the MFA had reviewed the documents previously provided by Post on the Global Initiative, but added that a "quick decision" on joining the GI was not possible as it would "take time" for all the concerned offices and agencies within the Omani government to review and consider the information. He declined an offer to send a U.S. team to discuss the GI, saying such a visit would be "premature" at this time, but did ask for clarification on the "legal status" of the GI (i.e. whether it is or is envisioned to be a binding agreement under international law) and the specific responsibilities and obligations that would be expected of Oman if it were to decide to become a partner nation. Pol/Econ Chief once again strongly encouraged Oman's participation in the GI and promised to provide additional information in response to Hassan's queries. ¶2. (C) On March 25, Pol/Econ Chief delivered ref C information to Hassan in response to his questions. He emphasized to Hassan that the GI, while an important initiative and a high priority for the U.S., was not designed to be a formal Memorandum of Understanding and that partner nations did not undertake specific obligations under international law. Pol/Econ Chief further explained that were it to join the GI, Oman would be expected to participate in GI events and to host or develop its own GI-related activities. Hassan thanked Pol/Econ Chief for the information and reaffirmed that Oman would continue to carefully review the matter and seriously consider our request to become a GI partner nation. GRAPPO