Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MUSCAT783
2007-08-15 08:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
how-toVZCZCXRO0687 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #0783 2270843 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150843Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8616 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000783
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT SHIFTS TO DOHA
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000783
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT SHIFTS TO DOHA
1. (U) Media reports on August 6 publicly confirmed the
shifting of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) annual
summit from Muscat to Doha. The media announced that Oman's
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs had delivered a note
from the Sultan to the Emir of Qatar requesting that the
venue for the December 2007 event be moved on account of the
extensive damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Gonu in June.
2. (SBU) Comment. The public announcement of the venue's
change confirmed what most Embassy contacts had known weeks
before. While the cyclone greatly affected Oman's
hospitality sector, Embassy contacts report that there was
already considerable concern over whether several large
hotels currently undergoing renovation would have been ready
in time for the December event, including Muscat's Al-Bustan
Palace Hotel, which had been scheduled to host the visiting
GCC heads of state. Furthermore, it was not clear whether
major road construction in front of the airport would have
been completed in time for the summit. Through this request,
the government has gracefully obtained an additional year to
ensure that Muscat will be ready to receive its GCC
counterparts by December 2008. End Comment.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT SHIFTS TO DOHA
1. (U) Media reports on August 6 publicly confirmed the
shifting of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) annual
summit from Muscat to Doha. The media announced that Oman's
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs had delivered a note
from the Sultan to the Emir of Qatar requesting that the
venue for the December 2007 event be moved on account of the
extensive damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Gonu in June.
2. (SBU) Comment. The public announcement of the venue's
change confirmed what most Embassy contacts had known weeks
before. While the cyclone greatly affected Oman's
hospitality sector, Embassy contacts report that there was
already considerable concern over whether several large
hotels currently undergoing renovation would have been ready
in time for the December event, including Muscat's Al-Bustan
Palace Hotel, which had been scheduled to host the visiting
GCC heads of state. Furthermore, it was not clear whether
major road construction in front of the airport would have
been completed in time for the summit. Through this request,
the government has gracefully obtained an additional year to
ensure that Muscat will be ready to receive its GCC
counterparts by December 2008. End Comment.
GRAPPO