OMAN PLEASED WITH FINAL TIP TIER RANKING, PROMISES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000732 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM KTIP SMIG MU SUBJECT: OMAN PLEASED WITH FINAL TIP TIER RANKING, PROMISES "FAST TRACK" ACTION ON ANTI-TIP LEGISLATION Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador informed Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General, on October 18 of the President's determination upgrading Oman from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List in the Department's most recent Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Sayyid Badr was very pleased with the news and promised to immediately inform Sultan Qaboos of the upgrade. He commented that the government wished the determination would have been issued sooner, but that he understood that the U.S. had "procedures" that needed to be completed first. ¶2. (C) When pressed by the Ambassador for a timeline on new anti-TIP measures, particularly comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, Sayyid Badr replied, "Our friends did not let us down, and we will not let them down." He stated that he had seen the final version of Oman's new anti-TIP law, currently with the Council of Ministers for review, and that news of the President's determination would allow the legislation to move to the "fast track" for approval. The Sultan himself, Sayyid Badr noted, wanted the law to be passed. GRAPPO