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