DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000636

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL IZ MU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB LEAGUE
MINISTERIAL: OMAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 93939

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


1. (C) Summary: During a September 6 meeting with the
Ambassador, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef
bin Alawi said Oman was "confused" by conflicting reports on
Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He was disappointed by
events following Annapolis and doubtful that an agreement
could be reached by the end of the year. The Minister was
similarly pessimistic about Arab League (AL) attempts, led by
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to encourage Palestinian factions -
including Fatah, which he deemed a "spent organization" - to
work together. Bin Alawi acknowledged progress in Iraq, but
asserted that the security in Baghdad still did not allow for
an Omani ambassador to be sent there. As the AL recognized
countries, rather than their ruling authorities, the envoy of
the new junta in Mauritania would be seated at the upcoming
AL Ministerial. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel points to Minister
Yusef bin Alawi during a meeting on September 6. On the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bin Alawi stated that Oman was
"totally confused" regarding the status of negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). While the
Israelis claimed that discussions were progressing and
included core issues, Palestinians concurrently complained
that there was no movement in the talks. It was,
accordingly, difficult for Oman to decide what to do to help
push forward peace efforts, said bin Alawi. The Foreign
Minister further declared that Oman was "very disappointed"
with the "Annapolis (process)." He saw no chance that the
U.S. administration would achieve its goal of fostering an
agreement between the PA and Israel by the end of the year.


3. (C) According to bin Alawi, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud
al-Faisal made a strong pitch during the recent GCC Foreign
Ministers meeting in Jeddah for all GCC states to line up
behind Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mubarak in
urging the Palestinian factions to come together. Bin Alawi
agreed that there was very little Arabs could do to help the
Palestinians unless Hamas and the PA agreed to work together,
but was pessimistic that this would happen. He commented
that Fatah, in his opinion, was a "spent organization" that
had "nothing left."


4. (C) Concerning Iraq, bin Alawi agreed that "visible
improvements" were taking place. However, while he
acknowledged the moves by other GCC states to send
ambassadors to Iraq, he asserted that the security situation
in Baghdad was still not satisfactory enough for Oman to
follow suit. He made clear that that this was in no way a
political decision - "we're as supportive of (Iraqi Prime
Minister) Maliki as anyone" - but one based solely on
security reasons.


5. (C) Bin Alawi stated that the diplomatic envoy sent by
the new ruling junta in Mauritania would be seated at the AL
Ministerial. He explained that the AL recognized "the
country, not the ruling authority," and remarked that this
would be in line with the seating of Iraq's representative
following the ouster of Saddam Hussein. He added, however,
that the AL would quietly try to "encourage quick elections"
in Mauritania.
GRAPPO