EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR OCTOBER 2008

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000767 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR OCTOBER 2008 REF: A. STATE 105444 ¶B. STATE 83512 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS ¶1. (SBU) Nothing to report. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶2. (SBU) ISIT II training - October 25 to 29. See paragraph 6 below. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶3. (SBU) On September 22, the EXBS Advisor, Pol-Econ Chief and Pol-Econ Officer met with the Director of the Disarmament & Arms Control Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the Export Control Conference scheduled to take place in Croatia from October 20 to 22 (ref A),and to follow-up on the Strategic Controls Workshop held in Muscat in June 2008 (ref B). (Note: The Director is leaving his current position at the end of October for a five year assignment in Vienna, Austria. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) On September 27, the EXBS Advisor accompanied Pol-Econ Officer and the Customs Border Protection (CBP) Program Manager for the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) in Salalah, Oman to a meeting with Royal Oman Police (ROP) Customs to brief Lt. Colonel Naji al-Abri, who was recently named to head up a Risk Management Division, on SFI. The EXBS Advisor also briefed al-Abri on the International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) scheduled for Muscat from October 25 to 29. ¶5. (SBU) On October 28, the EXBS Advisor, Pol-Econ Officer, the DHS/ICE Assistant Attache (Dubai, UAE),the DHS/ICE CSI/SFI Representative (Dubai, UAE),and the DHS/CBP Program Manager for the Middle East met with Brigadier General al-Kiyumi, Director General of ROP Customs. The EXBS Advisor explained his role and the mission of the EXBS program. He also discussed the proposed Risk Management Training to take place in Salalah, Oman in January 2009 and the Brigadier General's proposed trip to the United States in January 2009. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶6. (SBU) International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) was conducted in Muscat, Oman from October 25 to 29. This program was comprised of classroom and practical training in a wide range of seaport enforcement topics with an emphasis on a multi-layered enforcement posture. Based on participant involvement, the numerous questions raised, and the participant surveys, this course was well received. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶7. (SBU) Nothing to report. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT ¶8. (SBU) Two workshops have been proposed to the Omani government for January 2009: Risk Management Training in Salalah from January 17 to 21, and National Nuclear Security Administration training on export controls in Muscat from January 11 to 13. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶9. (SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS ¶10. (SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES ¶11. (SBU) Nothing to report. ¶12. (U) Point of contact is EXBS Advisor Tim Moran, telephone 968-24-643-503, e-mail MoranTG@state.gov GRAPPO