OMAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000865 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND S/CT (R.SHORE) STATE PASS TO NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC MU SUBJECT: OMAN: 2008 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM REF: A. STATE 124815 ¶B. STATE 120019 ¶1. The following is the proposed text for the 2008 Country Report on Terrorism for Oman per ref A and B guidance: Oman continued to be proactive in implementing counterterrorism strategies and cooperating with neighboring countries to prevent terrorists from entering or moving freely throughout the Arabian Peninsula. The Omani government opposed the spread of extremist ideology by promoting religious moderation and tolerance. To better coordinate efforts to prevent terrorist-related activities, the government began formation of a national terrorism operations and analysis center. Oman is not a major financial center and did not have a significant money laundering problem, although its financial system remained vulnerable to criminal activity. The government established a Financial Intelligence Unit attached to the Directorate of Financial Crimes of the Royal Oman Police and continued work towards finalizing a draft anti-terrorist financing law. A Ministerial Decree released in September 2008 strengthened the Oman Program for Anti-Money Laundering (OPFAM) by requiring certain non-banking establishments and companies to verify the identity of their clients and document financial transactions. Oman's long coastline and relatively porous borders remained vulnerable to illegal transit by migrant workers, smugglers, human trafficking victims, terrorists, and individuals involved in the traffic and sale of illegal drugs. The government was concerned about the steady flow of illegal immigrants throughout the year attempting to enter Oman, often in transit to other destinations in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The majority of the illegal immigrants apprehended were from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Somalis continued to illegally attempt to cross the border into Oman from Yemen. The Omani government actively sought training and equipment through the U.S. and British military to support its efforts to control its land and maritime borders. United States military assistance was used to bolster coastal patrol operations and make Oman's remote inland borders with Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE less porous and easier to observe. ¶2. Embassy Muscat POC for this report is Pol-Econ Chief Eric ¶J. Carlson; carlsone2@state.gov. GRAPPO