OMAN ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR INCREASED ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000264

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ MU
SUBJECT: OMAN ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR INCREASED ENGAGEMENT
WITH IRAQ

REF: A. STATE 35473

B. STATE 35471

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


1. (C) Ambassador delivered ref A and B demarches on April 6
to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi.
Regarding inaction on Iraq at the recent Arab League summit
in Damascus, bin Alawi cast some of the blame on the Iraqi
delegation, asserting that Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdel
Mahdi had raised the situation in Iraq as one of the last
items of business near the conclusion of the meeting when
"everyone wanted to go home." Bin Alawi acknowledged,
however, that Oman was "not doing enough" in its relations
with Iraq. In response to the Ambassador's encouragement of
high-level exchanges, the minister stated that he was still
considering a visit to Baghdad or issuing an invitation for
senior Iraqis to come to Muscat. He added that Oman was not
ready to re-open its diplomatic mission in the Iraqi capital.



2. (C) While recognizing the need for further Omani
engagement with Baghdad, bin Alawi commented that the Iraqis
were doing a poor job in communicating with Oman. He
recounted that Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki had called Sultan
Qaboos in June 2007 following hurricane Gonu to express his
support for Oman and that the Sultan had genuinely
appreciated the gesture. "More of this would help," noted
bin Alawi.


3. (C) With respect to public statements in support of the
Iraqi government, bin Alawi said that Oman could issue these
only in response to an appropriate event. As there was no
such event at present, Oman would look for future
opportunities to publicly voice support for Iraq.
GRAPPO