EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR JUNE 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000715 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR JUNE 2009 REF: 09 STATE 45674; 09 STATE 46221 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS ¶1. (SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶2. (SBU) On June 22, the EXBS Advisor received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the May 12 invitation to the 10th International Export Control Conference scheduled to take place in Istanbul from June 25-27 (ref A). Although the invitation requested the names of three Omani officials by May 27, the response contained five names and was received only two days prior to the travel day. With the assistance of Joe Baldwin, ISN/ECC Action Officer, three Omani officials, representing the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Customs, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, were able to attend. (Note - The Government of Oman declined to send any representatives to the 9th International Export Control Conference held in Croatia in October 2008. End Note) ¶3. (SBU) On June 29, the EXBS Program Assistant received a request from the Omani officials designated to attend the International Safeguards Training Opportunity for the Middle East to be held in the United States from July 12 to August 7, 2009 (ref B). The two Omani officials, both from the Ministry of Environment and Climatic Affairs, requested assistance with obtaining visas and travel information pertaining to their trip. The EXBS Program Assistant provided assistance on both issues. ¶4. (SBU) From June 26-30, the EXBS Advisor accompanied a Foreign Service Officer on a medical evacuation back to the U.S. as a non-medical attendant. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶5. (SBU) From June 2-4, the EXBS Advisor attended the EXBS Advisor Conference which was held in Tblisi, Republic of Georgia. ¶6. (SBU) On June 7, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant discussed the 10th Annual Export Control Conference scheduled to take place in Istanbul from July 25-27, 2009 with First Secretary Yaqub al-Ruqaishi, Director of the Disarmament & Arms Control Office, International Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Al-Ruqaishi stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not yet received any nominees for this conference. ¶7. (SBU) On June 21, the EXBS Program Assistant spoke with Captain Abdullah al-Bulushi, ROP Customs regarding the IBIT II training in Sohar from July 25-29 and upcoming training through 2010. Captain al-Bulushi was given a list of seven possible training opportunities. The EXBS Advisor and the EXBS Program Assistant will meet with Captain al-Bulushi in early July to further discuss the opportunities and determine tentative time frames. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶8. (SBU) None. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶9. (SBU) None. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT ¶10. (SBU) Four ICS-4000 Radionuclide Identifiers have been received. This equipment will be donated by EXBS to the Director General, ROP Customs at a ceremony in July. ¶11. (SBU) The International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT II) will take place in Sohar, Oman from July 25-29. It will include a practical exercise at the Al Wajajah border crossing which is located on the Oman/United Arab Emirates border. ¶12. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor has proposed a three day Model Export Law Training Workshop to the Director of the Disarmament & Arms Control Office, International Affairs Department, Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The workshop is planned for October, 2009. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR MUSCAT 00000715 002 OF 002 RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶13. (SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS ¶14. (SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES ¶15. (SBU) Nothing to report. POINT OF CONTACT HURTADO