OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER LASHES OUT AT "DESTRUCTIVE U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000086 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019-02-01 TAGS: PREL KISL MU SUBJECT: OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER LASHES OUT AT "DESTRUCTIVE U.S. INTERFERENCE" IN WORLD AFFAIRS REF: a) MUSCAT 55 CLASSIFIED BY: Gary A. Grappo, Ambassador, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy - Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusef bin Alawi, strongly criticized the U.S. for interfering in the affairs of other nations during a January 13 meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Sada Cumber. Using uncharacteristically harsh language, he blamed the U.S. and other Western powers for many of the problems in the developing world and asserted that the U.S. had "destroyed" several nations, including Afghanistan and Iraq. Bin Alawi also denounced the U.S. use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool and claimed that elements in some Western countries were attempting to "recruit" Muslims to become extremists so as to enflame tensions between the West and the Islamic world. Bin Alawi additionally derided the OIC, saying that it had "no real role" to play in world affairs. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Sada Cumber met January 13 with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi to discuss U.S. outreach to the OIC and engagement with Muslim nations and communities world-wide. Ambassador Cumber stated that the U.S. was committed to promoting inter-faith dialogue and tolerance and lauded Oman for being an excellent example of a moderate and progressive Muslim country. Bin Alawi replied that a profound "lack of understanding" was a major obstacle to inter-faith relations. He also questioned Western partners in inter-faith dialogue efforts. Western governments were secular institutions and accordingly could not properly speak on religious issues while Christian churches, he claimed, generally had very limited influence in the West as illustrated by the large "gap" between religious principles and popular lifestyles in Western countries. ¶3. (C) Bin Alawi drew a clear distinction between religious tolerance and co-existence. The latter, he asserted, was more important and required respect for and acceptance of the culture and traditions of other nations. The "major powers," however, did not believe in the equality of nations and religious faiths and continually sought to impose their will on weaker countries. Expanding on this assertion, bin Alawi stated that these powerful states never relinquished their colonial mentality and still sought to "control" developing countries and the world economic system, which was one reason why Arab states and other nations dismissed Western calls for democracy. "Look at your human rights resolutions against China - why must you disturb the internal affairs of others?" ¶4. (C) Responding to Ambassador Cumber's statements on the need to counter religious extremism, bin Alawi claimed that elements in some Western countries were intentionally attempting to create tensions between the West and the Islamic world. He asserted that these individuals were "recruiting and manipulating Muslims to become extremists" in order to foment unrest and problems in Islamic countries. "The West must stop this dirty business," he declared. As an apparent example of this alleged practice, bin Alawi cited the UK's "hosting" of three Saudi extremists [not identified further] wanted by the government in Riyadh. ¶5. (C) In addressing the challenges facing Islamic countries, bin Alawi sharply disagreed with Ambassador Cumber on the role of the U.S. and other Western powers. He claimed that "so many problems" in Arab and other countries were a direct result of "Western inference" that continued through the present day. The U.S. in particular, he continued, had "destroyed" Japan, Vietnam, Afghanistan and, now, Iraq. "Why don't you just leave us alone?" Regarding the current global financial crisis, bin Alawi asserted that this was due to the massive amounts of money expended by the U.S. government on its invasion and occupation of Iraq. "Because you interfere in other people's affairs, you have caused much suffering in the world," he remarked. ¶6. (C) Using his birth country of Pakistan as example, Ambassador Cumber argued that developing Muslim nations needed to consider new directions in overcoming economic and social problems. Bin Alawi, however, once again cast blame on the West. He stated that "those powers" that pressured Pakistan to join SEATO and to spend money on "unnecessary" items were more responsible for Pakistan's problems than former governments in Islamabad. "Pakistan was not allowed to do things in its own self-interest," he commented. Bin Alawi also sharply criticized the U.S. for using or threatening sanctions to bully other nations. "You do this or you will be sanctioned - what kind of approach is this?" Cuba, for example, posed no threat to the U.S., yet the U.S. government refused to let the island "determine its own will." Turning to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, he asked, "What gives the U.S. the right to impose sanctions on [the government of] Sudan?" The Sudanese people should be allowed to solve their own problems, including the situation in Darfur, he commented, rather than have "everyone trying to put their hand in it." ¶7. (C) Momentarily backing away from his verbal attack against perceived U.S. meddling, bin Alawi stated there was "no question that America is a great, compassionate nation." He also praised the U.S. constitution which, like Islam, "enshrines justice." The problem, he explained, was that U.S. government practice did not follow the ideals of its constitution. Moreover, in contrast with Oman which adhered to Islamic principles, the American people and government often went astray as they were "not linked to religious faith or principles." ¶8. (C) Steering the conversation towards the OIC, Ambassador Cumber briefly outlined the goals of the organization's 10-year action plan. Bin Alawi, however, called the plan a "joke" and said the OIC wasn't even able to get its members states to pay their budgetary contributions. "The OIC has no real role; the [OIC] Secretariat has no teeth." The Islamic Development Bank, the Minister expounded, was by far the most appropriate institution to promote education and development in the Muslim world. ¶9. (C) Comment: Bin Alawi appeared tired and under stress during his unusually vociferous exchange with Ambassador Cumber. While he never directly mentioned Gaza, it is likely that the then-ongoing Israeli attacks against Hamas, which had aroused local anti-U.S. sentiment (reftel),weighed heavily on his mind; Omani internet chat rooms have held the Minister responsible for Oman's phlegmatic response to the Gaza crisis. Nevertheless, bin Alawi's statements show that he still retains socialist, anti-U.S. leanings from his days as a leader of the revolutionary Dhofar Liberation Front in the 1960s and 70s, despite the ensuing decades as an Omani government official. End Comment. ¶10. (U) Ambassador Cumber did not have the opportunity to clear on this message. 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