EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR DECEMBER 2009

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000012 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR DECEMBER 2009 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 1.(SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 2.(SBU) On December 9, 2009, the EXBS Advisor Team sent a letter to Director General of ROP Customs, Brigadier Issa Alkiyumu, explaining the upcoming Land Border Tracker Training that EXBS will sponsor in Sohar, Oman from January 23-27, 2010. 3.(SBU) On December 15, 2009, the EXBS Advisor Team sent a letter to Director General of ROP Customs, Brigadier Issa Alkiyumu, thanking him for meeting with the EXBS sponsored team (Bob Hessler, EXBS Ankara, and Fred Eissler, CBP) that was recently in Oman to conduct a curriculum review and discuss risk assessment. The letter requested a hard copy of the ROP Customs training curriculum and pictures of Omani ROP Customs officers carrying out their daily duties. These materials will be used by CBP to create Oman specific training slides for use by CBP and when training ROP Customs officials. ¶4. (SBU) On December 15, 2009, the EXBS Advisor Team sent a letter to Director General of ROP Customs, Brigadier Issa Alkiyumu, requesting a list of nominees for the upcoming Land Border Tracker Training program in Sohar, Oman from January 23-27, 2010. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶5. (SBU) On January 3, 2010, EXBS Advisor Hoffman and State Econ Officer Beth Powers met with ROP Customs officials to discuss the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement and GCC related issues. The meeting was led by ROP Customs officers Saif Mawali and Abdullah Jarwani. The EXBS Advisor addressed inquiries regarding risk assessment and documentation accompanying U.S. and other goods entering Oman. The Omanis expressed keen interest in the need to develop a systematic risk assessment system. Omani attendees pointed out the window of the meeting room to a seized tanker truck they recently caught smuggling alcohol into Oman from the UAE to emphasize the realities they are up against in targeting and inspecting cargo. After hearing complaints from attendees about difficulties reading VACIS images (one attendee pointed out that his VACIS training at the Port of Baltimore was not adequate),the EXBS Advisor explained that further VACIS training is being scheduled for Oman. Attendees also asked if EXBS would be providing radiation detection equipment to Oman. The EXBS Advisor confirmed that such equipment would be delivered in the future. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 6.(SBU) None. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 7.(SBU) None. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT 8.(SBU) The EXBS Advisor Team is making preparations for one week of Land Border Tracker Training for ROP Customs officers. The training is scheduled for January 23-27, 2010 in Sohar, Oman and will include both classroom and field exercises. ¶9. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor is scheduled to attend a Commodity Identification Training (CIT) course January 10-14, 2010 in Dubai, UAE. The EXBS Advisor will make introductory calls with U.S. Embassy staff in Abu Dhabi following the training. 10.(SBU) The EXBS Advisor Team is scheduling VACIS and other equipment training for ROP Customs officers. Training will take place on VACIS mobile and stationary x-ray equipment previously purchased by Oman. The EXBS team is in the process of confirming two weeks in March 2010 for this training. 11.(SBU) The EXBS Advisor is planning to attend an EXBS sponsored and DOE-led Analysis of Strategic Commodity Transfers (ASCOT) workshop in Amman, Jordan, February 21-23, 2010. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY 12.(SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS 13.(SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES 14.(SBU) Nothing to report. Schmierer