STOPPING FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ: OMAN

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000671 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/ELA, NEA/I/POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER SY IZ MU SUBJECT: STOPPING FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ: OMAN REF: STATE 92339 Classified By: CDA Alfred F. Fonteneau for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (S) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on July 3 to Humaid al-Maani, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Sayyid al Badr al-Busaidi. (Note: Al-Maani had recently returned to Muscat from Washington after participating in the U.S.-Oman Gulf Security Dialogue. End Note.) Al-Maani acknowledged U.S. concerns over the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq via Syria, but noted that Oman had "little influence" with Damascus. Regarding actions to prevent individuals from joining terrorist or insurgent groups in Iraq, al-Maani commented that travel restrictions and information campaigns were "not appropriate or necessary" in the case of Oman as it was not a source or transit country for men attempting to enter Iraq for illicit purposes. ¶2. (S) As instructed, post is also pursuing reftel objectives through intelligence channels. FONTENEAU