EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR FEBRUARY 2009

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000158 SENSITIVE SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR FEBRUARY 2009 REF: a) 09 US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC 2031905 REF: 09 US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC 2031905 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS ¶1. (SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶2. (SBU) None. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶3. (SBU) On February 1, the EXBS Advisor and the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) Program Manager for Oman met with Lt. Colonel Nasser al-Ruzaigi, Directorate General of Information Technology for Royal Oman Police (ROP),and Lt. Abdullah al-Raqmi, Directorate General of Civil Defence, ROP to discuss Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) portal conversion upgrades for the SFI at the port of Salalah. The upgrades consist of: drive-through capability, shielding and a 24/7 control station. The benefits of the upgrades are: faster scanning of cargo, the mitigation of health and safety concerns, a reduction in the number of personnel required, and 24/7 capability. Al-Ruzaigi was pleased with the proposal. ¶4. (SBU) During a February 7 meeting, the Ambassador hand-delivered a document entitled "Legal Authorities for an Effective Export Control System", including a one-page summary prepared by the EXBS Advisor, to Sayyid Badr bin Humoud al-Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The Ambassador encouraged the government of Oman to implement an export control system and offered continued U.S. assistance toward this goal. Al-Busaidi was receptive to the Ambassador's presentation and said he would look into the matter. ¶5. (SBU) On February 17, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant met with Lt. Colonel Naji al-Abri to discuss the International Border Interdiction Training in McAllen, Texas tentatively scheduled for March 23-27(reftel)and the UNSCR 1540 Workshop scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar March 8-11. They also presented al-Abri with a video in Arabic on ocean container seals. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶6. (SBU) None. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶7. (SBU) Nothing to report. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT ¶8. (SBU) A Regional Workshop on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar from March 8-11. The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant plan to attend. ¶9. (SBU) International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) for ROP Customs is tentatively scheduled in McAllen, Texas for the week of March 23, 2009 (reftel). The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant will accompany the delegation. ¶10. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant are scheduled to attend the Center for International Trade and Security in Athens, GA from April 13-17. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶11. (SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS ¶12. (SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES ¶13. (SBU) Nothing to report. POINT OF CONTACT GRAPPO To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:1963fd1f-ac16- 4d35-b5a6-130d70d8b568