UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES: OMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000659 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, IO/RHS, AND DRL/MLGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UN MU SUBJECT: UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES: OMAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 95334 Classified By: DCM L. Victor Hurtado for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief delivered relevant reftel points on September 14 to Sameh al-Amri, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. (Note: Sayyid Badr will head Oman's delegation to this year's UN General Assembly. End Note.) Al-Amri had no substantive reply, but stated that he would pass the information to appropriate Omani officials. ¶2. (C) Comment: Given past experience, it is unlikely that Oman will vote in favor of any of the country-specific human rights resolutions. While Oman supports international respect for human rights and shares some of our concerns on the human rights situations in other nations, the Sultanate generally sees country-specific resolutions as being in conflict with its adherence to a policy of non-interfQence in the affairs of other states. Moreover, Omani officials repeatedly assert that dialogue, not confrontation, is the best way to address almost every international issue of concern. End Comment. GRAPPO