Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT727
2008-10-15 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Muscat
how-toVZCZCXRO6215 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMS #0727 2891353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151353Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0030 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 0064
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000727
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PREL AMGT MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT MOVED TO DECEMBER
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000727
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PREL AMGT MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT MOVED TO DECEMBER
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Contacts in the government and Muscat hotels have
confirmed that the GCC Summit, originally scheduled for late
November in the Omani capital, has been postponed to
December. The government has not yet announced a new date
for the Summit, but Embassy sources report that the event may
be held on or about December 24.
2. (C) The exact reasons for the postponement are unclear.
Contacts suggest that either the main venue, the remodeled
Al-Bustan Hotel, will not be fully ready in November and/or
the extensive beautification projects in the capital area
undertaken for the Summit will not be completed in time.
Given that the Muscat Summit has already been delayed for a
full year after the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone
Gonu in June 2007, it is unlikely that the Sultanate, much
less Summit host Sultan Qaboos, would admit to a failure to
timely complete preparations in postponing the event. The
British Ambassador to Oman told emboffs at a dinner on
October 14 that the Omani government may claim that the date
was changed by request of Saudi Arabia due to Saudi royal
family commitments back home related to the Hajj.
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PREL AMGT MU
SUBJECT: GCC SUMMIT MOVED TO DECEMBER
Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Contacts in the government and Muscat hotels have
confirmed that the GCC Summit, originally scheduled for late
November in the Omani capital, has been postponed to
December. The government has not yet announced a new date
for the Summit, but Embassy sources report that the event may
be held on or about December 24.
2. (C) The exact reasons for the postponement are unclear.
Contacts suggest that either the main venue, the remodeled
Al-Bustan Hotel, will not be fully ready in November and/or
the extensive beautification projects in the capital area
undertaken for the Summit will not be completed in time.
Given that the Muscat Summit has already been delayed for a
full year after the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone
Gonu in June 2007, it is unlikely that the Sultanate, much
less Summit host Sultan Qaboos, would admit to a failure to
timely complete preparations in postponing the event. The
British Ambassador to Oman told emboffs at a dinner on
October 14 that the Omani government may claim that the date
was changed by request of Saudi Arabia due to Saudi royal
family commitments back home related to the Hajj.
GRAPPO