SULTAN ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN THIS MONTH

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000637 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD NEA/PPD PAGNEW DBENZE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO IR MU SUBJECT: SULTAN ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN THIS MONTH ¶1. (SBU) On June 17, all Omani English and Arabic daily papers carried an official news agency (Oman News Agency) article announcing that H.M. Sultan Qaboos will make a three-day official visit to Iran at the end of June. The article announced the delegation, which includes seven ministers, the Sultan's Advisor for Cultural Affairs, and the Inspector General of Omani Police. Full text of the ONA article follows. ¶2. (U) Begin text: "MUSCAT -- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said will pay a three-day official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran later this month. The Diwan of the Royal Court issued the following statement: 'In a bid to enhance the historic strong relations that bind the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran and out of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said's keenness to cement the principles of good neighbourhood between the Sultanate and its neighbours in the region and in response to the invitation extended to His Majesty by the Iranian President HE Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, God willing, His Majesty will pay a three-day official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran later this month. His Majesty will be accompanied by a high-level official delegation comprising Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court H.E. Sayyid Ali Bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Minister of the Royal Office Gen. Ali Bin Majid Al Ma'amari, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs H.E. Yousuf Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, National Economy Minister and Supervisor of the Ministry of Finance H.E. Ahmed Bin Abdulnabi Macki, H.M.'s Adviser for Cultural Affairs H.E. Abdul Aziz Bin Mohammed Al Rowas, Minister of Health H.E. Dr Ali Bin Mohammed Bin Moosa, Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Maqbool Bin Ali Bin Sultan, Inspector-General of Police and Customs Lt-Gen. Malik Bin Suleiman Al Ma'amari, Minister of Oil and Gas H.E. Dr. Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Rumhy, and the Sultanate's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran H.E. Sheikh Yahya Bin Abdullah Al Fannah Al Araimi. The visit stems from His Majesty's keenness in boosting existing bilateral relations between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran in all fields that serve the interests of the friendly peoples of Oman and Iran, as well as the people of the region besides discussing the issues of interest for both sides in light of the developments on the regional and international arena.'" End text. HURTADO