OMAN NOT OBSERVING ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001041 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/24 TAGS: ECON ETRD KBCT MU SUBJECT: OMAN NOT OBSERVING ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT REF: STATE 120272; STATE 118797 CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Schmierer, AMB, Department of State, Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) Oman does not enforce any of the three forms of the Arab League boycott (ALB). Oman rescinded the secondary and tertiary boycotts in 1994. In 1996 the Sultan issued a formal decision approving the suspension of the primary boycott. Omani diplomatic missions are also forbidden to take part in any ALB meetings. ¶2. (C) Occasionally government tender documents contain outdated boycott language. However, since USDOC Anti-boycott official visits in 2005, Oman has been proactive in removing boycott language from tender documents and if such language is found it is quickly removed by Omani officials. Post received a report from the Port of Salalah that the Minister of Transport and Communication and the Minister of Commerce and Industry have explicitly discouraged a transshipment contract between the Port and an Israeli shipping company. The Port did not ask for Embassy involvement in the issue. During the Ambassador's introductory calls on the respective Ministers, Oman's continuing efforts at eradicating ABL measures, including de facto actions, will be encouraged. ¶3. (U) Due to Oman's positive approach to the removal of the ALB, EmbOffs have not had to conduct outreach activities during FY09. Post is confident that as an official policy Oman does not observe the ALB and will continue to address issues regarding ALB language in a timely manner. Schmierer