OMAN GOVERNMENT SAYS NO USAGE OF SOHAR PORT FOR MILITARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000377 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/04/19 TAGS: EWWT ETRD MOPS PREL PHSA MU SUBJECT: OMAN GOVERNMENT SAYS NO USAGE OF SOHAR PORT FOR MILITARY PURPOSES REF: MUSCAT 147 CLASSIFIED BY: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo, Ambassador, Department of State, Embassy Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) On April 14, Pol/EconOff and post Naval AttachC) met with Air Commodore Salim al-Rahbi, Office Director for the Omani Minister of Defense. The meeting was requested by the Omani government to discuss postbs diplomatic note referencing our interest in prepositioning non-lethal military equipment for Afghanistan and our potential need to move equipment through the Port of Sohar for the War Reserve Materiel (WRM) program at the new Omani airbase in al-Musanaba. ¶2. (C) Al-Rahbi said that he had been instructed to inform post that the Port of Sohar was solely for commercial and industrial usage and that no military vessels or equipment would be allowed to pass through the port.B He emphasized that even the Omani military is not allowed access to Sohar. ¶3. (C) Postbs Naval AttachC) explained very clearly the process for the proposed Afghan shipments, the lack of military vessels or markings, and the detailed plan for ensuring that equipment remained covered and could not be visually identified as related to the military.B B Al-Rahbi remarked that this information was binterestingb, and that he would convey it back to the proper authorities. He reiterated, however, that he was instructed to communicate that military equipment cannot pass through the port at Sohar.B He added that if the information provided created a change in Omani policy, he would inform the Embassy. ¶4. (C) When asked if this policy would apply to WRM equipment, he said byes.b He thought equipment of this type should pass through ports in Muttrah and Salalah, per current procedure, or through Duqm (reftel) in the future. ¶5. (C) Comment: Al-Rahbibs feedback was consistent with the GOObs overall long-term strategy for Omanbs ports. This strategy envisions using Sohar as a commercial/industrial port, Muttrah as a tourist port, Duqm as a dry dock, import/export and military access port, and Salalah as a transshipment container port. This was the clearest and most direct message to date about military access to Sohar. If this policy holds, it presents a serious obstacle to having the port of Sohar added to the Base Access Agreement when it comes up for renewal in 2010. This may also have a considerably negative impact on the WRM stockpile planned for al-Musanaba as our WRM there would not have convenient port access. However, Omanbs position on Sohar may be a bargaining ploy to extract a higher price for the addition of Sohar to the Base Access Agreement. End Comment. GRAPPO