PROPOSED VISIT OF OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER TO WASHINGTON AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000233 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-03-25 TAGS: PREL OVIP MU SUBJECT: PROPOSED VISIT OF OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER TO WASHINGTON AND U.S. CENTCOM CLASSIFIED BY: Gary A. Grappo, Ambassador, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy - Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on March 24, Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi stated that he wished to visit Washington, D.C. in mid-April to meet with new foreign policy officials in the Obama administration. He specifically requested to meet with the following individuals while in Washington: -- Vice President Biden -- Secretary Clinton -- National Security Advisor General Jones -- Special Envoy Mitchell -- Special Envoy Holbrooke -- Special Advisor Ross Bin Alawi said that he was not seeking appointments on Capitol Hill, but was open to other meetings that the Department recommended. ¶3. (C) Bin Alawi also asked to visit U.S. CENTCOM in Tampa for one day to include a meeting with General Petraeus. Between Washington and Florida, the Omani minister envisions a total of 10 days for his visit to the United States. ¶4. (C) Action Request: Embassy Muscat strongly supports bin Alawi's request for appointments in the United States. We accordingly ask that the Department provide, as soon as possible, proposed dates in April for his meetings in Washington. The Department and U.S. CENTCOM are further requested to coordinate on dates for bin Alawi's visit to Tampa. End Action Request. GRAPPO