SULTAN QABOOS DELIVERS UPBEAT SPEECH AT OPENING OF MAJILS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001027

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/18
TAGS: PGOV KWMN MU
SUBJECT: SULTAN QABOOS DELIVERS UPBEAT SPEECH AT OPENING OF MAJILS
OMAN

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard J Schmierer, Ambassador, State, Exec; REASON:
1.4(D)


1. (U) In keeping with tradition, Sultan Qaboos bin Said presided
over the ceremonial opening session of the Majlis Oman on November
16, at Hisn al Shomoukn in the wilayat of Manah (near Nizwa). The
annual event was attended by royal family members, members of the
Majlis al-Dawla (appointed upper house) and Majlis al-Shura
(elected lower house),government ministers, senior military
officials and heads of diplomatic missions, as well as press
representatives.




2. (SBU) The GoO had announced that the speech would be short, and
true to prediction, it lasted for only nine minutes. The Sultan
stressed the need for equal opportunities for all citizens and for
development of technical education and expertise to help carry Oman
into the future. He praised Omani women and called upon all women
to exercise their rights. Qaboos also used the occasion to declare
future October 17s as Omani Women's Day.




3. (C) Comment: Over the years, the Sultan has reduced barriers and
legal impediments for women. In this speech he clearly indicated
that he NOW expects women to assert their rights. As this is the
39th year of Qaboos' rule, which the Omanis call the "National
Renaissance," Embassy expects that next year's speech (as well as
the adjacent National Day observance) will be expanded and
elaborate. This year the Sultan stuck to an upbeat line. (Last
year he surprised many by attacking official corruption.) If the
old political observance is true that the freedom of a nation is
inversely proportionate to the length of its leader's speeches,
Oman is doing relatively well. End Comment.
Schmierer