Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MUSCAT596
2007-06-12 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

OMAN ISSUES CYCLONE RECOVERY DIRECTIVES, QUIETLY

Tags:  AMER AMGT ASEC PGOV PREL CASC KSAC KHLS MOPS 
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DE RUEHMS #0596 1631218
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121218Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8388
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEASRB/COMUSARCENT-CDRUSATHIRD FT MCPHERSON GA
RHMFISS/COMUSCENTAF SHAW AFB SC
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000596 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: AMER AMGT ASEC PGOV PREL CASC KSAC KHLS MOPS
MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ISSUES CYCLONE RECOVERY DIRECTIVES, QUIETLY
ACCEPTS FUNDS FROM GCC STATES

REF: A. MUSCAT 590


B. MUSCAT 587

C. MUSCAT 581

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 000596

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: AMER AMGT ASEC PGOV PREL CASC KSAC KHLS MOPS
MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ISSUES CYCLONE RECOVERY DIRECTIVES, QUIETLY
ACCEPTS FUNDS FROM GCC STATES

REF: A. MUSCAT 590


B. MUSCAT 587

C. MUSCAT 581

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


1. (SBU) After being conspicuously absent from the public
eye during and following the devastating impact of tropical
cyclone Gonu on Oma (refs A-C),Sultan Qabos presided over
a heavily-publicized meeting of the Council of Ministers on
the evening of June 11 at his residence outside of Muscat.
At the meeting, the Sultan directed the formation of two
committees to assist in storm recovery efforts. The first
committee, headed by the Minister of Diwan of Royal Court,
will be charged with assessing and creating an inventory of
damage to the homes and property of Omani citizens. The
second committee, chaired by the Minister of National
Economy, will be tasked with coordinating the repair of the
country's infrastructure including roads, bridges, water
distribution systems, and the electrical grid.


2. (U) The Sultan also directed the establishment of a fund
through the government-affiliated Oman Charitable
Organization (OCO) to accept donations to provide "urgent
assistance" to those severely affected by the storm.
Although the government previously banned non-Omanis from
contributing cash towards relief efforts (ref C),the OCO
fund will accept monetary donations from all individuals and
organizations. (Note: The Ambassador is requesting septel
U.S. disaster relief aid to contribute to the fund. End
Note.) The Sultan further authorized the deposit of seven
million Omani rials (USD 18.2 million) to set-up the new OCO
account.


3. (C) During a June 11 meeting with the Ambassador,
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi once
again thanked the U.S. for its offers of direct assistance
during and immediately after Gonu. He reiterated that the
government believed that it had sufficient resources to
manage recovery operations, and that Oman wished to be
self-reliant in dealing with the storm's aftermath. He
added, however, that Oman might still approach the U.S. for
"specialized" assistance as reconstruction efforts
progressed. The Minister also acknowledged that the
government had quietly accepted the following monetary aid
from GCC countries: USD 500 million from Saudi Arabia, USD
50 million from Qatar, and USD 10 million from Kuwait.
GRAPPO