OMAN - REPRESENTATION AT THE AFGHAN PRESEDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001023 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND SCA/A E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/18 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MU SUBJECT: OMAN - REPRESENTATION AT THE AFGHAN PRESEDENTIAL INAUGURATION AND ENHANCING DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION REF: STATE 115549 CLASSIFIED BY: Richard J Schmierer, Ambassador, State, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) In response to reftel demarche request, Pol Econ Chief called on Counselor Ahmad bin Sa'id bin Umar al-Kathiri, Deputy Director of the American Affairs Department on November 17. Al-Kathiri agreed that it is important for the world community to support the Afghan Government and encourage it to fulfill its promise to improve stability, security and governance. ¶2. (C) As to attendance at the inauguration, he said Oman's problem is simply the security of any delegation it might send. While not saying that Oman would decline to send a delegation, he indicated that it would be unlikely solely on the grounds of personal security. ¶3. (C) On enhancing in-country diplomatic representation, al Kathiri said that, again, security is the issue why Oman has not moved forward. (Note: Oman's Ambassador to Pakistan is also accredited to Afghanistan.) Schmierer