MOU ON CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS UNDER CHEMICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000358

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

ISN/CB FOR RICHARD D'ANDREA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2017
TAGS: PARM PREL KTIA CWC MU
SUBJECT: MOU ON CHALLENGE INSPECTIONS UNDER CHEMICAL
WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC): OMAN UPDATE

REF: STATE 40655

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.


2. (C) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel points on April 10 to
Abdullah al-Riyami, Deputy Director of the Department of
International Affairs at the Omani Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Riyami stated that he was very well acquainted with
the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on CWC
challenge inspections as he had worked closely on the matter
with Ambassador Talib Miran al-Raisi at the MFA for the last
few years. (Note: Talib Miran was promoted to Chief of the
Economic and Technical Cooperation Department at the MFA in
February 2007. End note.) Apologizing for Oman's delay in
formally responding to the proposed U.S. text, Riyami said
that the draft MOU remained under review at the Ministry of
Defense. He confided that the MOU had been "temporarily put
aside" for a number of reasons unrelated to the actual
document, but emphasized that he was not aware of any
specific objections raised within the Omani government to
eventually signing such an MOU. Riyami asked for continued
U.S. patience and said he would press relevant Omani
government offices for a formal, detailed response to the
draft MOU text before the end of May.


3. (C) Action Request: Riyami said that it would be
"helpful" for Oman to complete its review of the MOU if it
had a list of Arab countries with which the U.S. had
concluded a CWC challenge inspection MOU. Post would
accordingly appreciate the names of such countries, either
via e-mail or front channel cable, to share with the Omani
government if possible.
GRAPPO