OMAN TIP REPORT DELIVERED: "THE GOAL IS TIER ONE"

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000635 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/16 TAGS: PREL KTIP PHUM MU SUBJECT: OMAN TIP REPORT DELIVERED: "THE GOAL IS TIER ONE" REF: (A) STATE 60577; (B) MUSCAT 607 CLASSIFIED BY: L. Victor Hurtado, CdA; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Charge' previewed the Oman Trafficking in Persons Report (ref A) with MFA number two SecGen Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Humud Al Busaidi June 16, who accepted the news of a Tier 2 ranking graciously and noted that Oman's goal remained a Tier 1 ranking. Sayyid Badr explanined that Oman was building an anti-tip system from the ground up and would not resort to short cuts or "cosmetic" steps that might actually damage progress in the longer term. ¶2. (C) In discussing recommended next steps, Sayyid Badr was confident that both the national anti-trafficking plan and government shelters would be completed soon. Training would also be continued. He asked whether the MFA-provided TIP report had proved helpful. The Charge' noted that it was, but maximum transparency and free access to discuss TIP with appropriate government agencies was also essential. For example, the access to the Attorney General's office to discuss details of the first case tried under the new TIP law (ref B) was vital. Sayyid Badr committed to work closely with the Embassy over the coming year to counter TIP. HURTADO