U.S.-OMAN GULF SECURITY DIALOG: OMAN READY FOR U.S. AGENDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000113 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/24 TAGS: MARR PREL MOPS PARM MU SUBJECT: U.S.-OMAN GULF SECURITY DIALOG: OMAN READY FOR U.S. AGENDA ITEMS REF: STATE 4265 CLASSIFIED BY: Richard J Schmierer, Ambassador, State, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) The Ambassador called on Chief of the MFA Secretary General's Office, Ambassador Lyutha al Mughairi, on February 24 to discuss the topic of agenda items for the March 24, 2010 U.S.-Oman Gulf Security Dialog. Ambassador Schmierer confirmed the U.S. desire to move away from the old GSD format of discussions organized around six pillars, to a format of sessions tailored to each country's specific security concerns, with the Omani and the U.S. sides both contributing items to the agenda. ¶2. (C) Al Mughairi confirmed that Secretary General Sayyid Badr is focused on the issue and has discussed the GSD with her. He prefers that the dialog stick to strategic issues, and defer other operational issues to the Joint Military Commission - noting that he does not want to spend time on a topic that will be handled in another forum. Sayyid Badr is proposing a two-to-three hour meeting with a bridge in the middle, with opportunity for follow-up as needed. ¶3. (C) Al Mughairi agreed that the U.S. and Omani agenda items will likely be similar, and requested that we provide the U.S. agenda as soon as possible. The Omani side will then give its recommendation of any additional items it wants to include. The Embassy would appreciate the Department's transmission of the U.S. agenda as soon as it is available. Schmierer