EMBASSY MUSCAT WELCOMES CODEL LOWEY VISIT TO OMAN

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000096 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR H/EX/CTO AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP PREL AMGT MU SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT WELCOMES CODEL LOWEY VISIT TO OMAN REF: (A) STATE 10695 (B) AF ESCORT - CONTROL OFFICER SUPPORT REQUEST LETTER, 02/01/2010 (C) CHARTRAND - MUSCAT CONTROL TELCON, 02/02/2010 (D) CLARKSON - CHARTRAND EMAIL, 02/02/2010 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy Muscat warmly welcomes CODEL Lowey for its visit to Oman, February 15-16, 2010. Please note requests in paragraphs 6, 9, 12 and 13. Embassy notes that all requested meetings have been submitted to the Government of Oman. The GoO traditionally releases the final schedule closer to the time of arrival. Meetings/Visits: ¶2. (SBU) Embassy is working with the Government to obtain the meetings/visits you have requested: -- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said; -- His Excellency Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs; -- His Excellency Dr. Omar bin Abdul Mun'im al-Zawawi, the Sultan's Advisor for External Relations; -- Leaders and members of the Majlis Oman; -- Visit to Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC); -- Visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Scenarios will be sent by separate email. ¶3. (SBU) The compressed time frame for the visit may crowd out some requested events and meetings. Omani protocol will determine attendance at official meetings. Alternative programming will be provided for those who cannot participate. News Clips ¶4. (SBU) Embassy public affairs office will provide the control room with multiple copies of a four-five page daily world news briefing for distribution, along with fewer copies of an 85-100 page anthology of overnight international clips. These products are available by 4:00 p.m. local time. There are no U.S. newspapers available; a limited range of international newspapers may be available, but will be two or more days out of date. Local English-language newspapers rely on international wire-service coverage; hotel/embassy can make these newspapers available. Depending on the delegation's final schedule, clip sets of local coverage of the visit's first day may be available prior to departure; alternately, PDF scans can be sent to designated contacts via email. Press/Photos ¶5. (SBU) In Oman's highly state-directed media climate, coverage of visits such as this one is supervised directly by the Oman News Agency (ONA). At ministerial meetings, ONA representatives are present at the start for a very brief photo spray only. No additional press is present, no remarks are given, and no questions asked. The resulting photographs are passed to both state and private outlets, with a caption stating that the participants "discussed matters of mutual interest." The protocol is similar for royal meetings, except that only court photographers are present and even fewer photographs are taken. Private photography at the Palace is strictly forbidden. Should a staff photographer accompany visitors on a royal visit, that person's presence must be cleared in advance by Royal Protocol. The Omani assumption will be that any resulting images are for purely personal/internal/archival use, not/not for use or release in any medium including the Internet. The staff photographer will be guided by Palace staff and will be permitted to take pictures only when the court photographer does so. Visas ¶6. (SBU) Travelers carrying U.S. passports do not need to obtain Omani visas prior to arrival. There is no prohibition of Israeli stamps in passports. There should be no charge for visas in diplomatic (black) and official (red) passports. There is a twenty dollar visa fee for tourist (blue) passports. Please advise of passport types for full delegation. Attire/Weather ¶7. (SBU) Modest dress is the rule in Oman. Both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees. A possible visit to the Grand Mosque would require wrist- and ankle-length clothing for men and women, plus a scarf to cover the hair for women. Entry to the prayer hall will require removal of shoes but the walkways are carpeted. Average daytime temperatures in Muscat should be approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit. While winter weather will be behind you, there is a remote chance of rain. Hotel ¶8. (SBU) The Hotel reserved is the Intercontinental, in the district known as Shatti al Qurm, telephone (968) 2468-0000, fax (968) 2460-0012. The room rate is $ 233 (government per diem), including service and tax, but not breakfast. Address: Al Kharjiya Street, Al Shati Area, P.O. Box 398, PC 114, Tel: (968) 2468-0000 Fax: (968) 2460-0012. ¶9. (SBU) The Control Room and Delegation Room will be provided and staffed as requested. The requested setup for both will require occupying them the day before arrival. Embassy requests authorization to use ref A House Account for the purpose of meeting the CODEL's requirements. Also per ref C telcon and ref D email, host government security requirements stipulate two security rooms. Embassy requests authorization to use ref A House Account for this purpose also. ¶10. (SBU) Embassy will provide transportation and baggage requirements as requested in ref B. As discussed and authorized in ref C telcon, this will involve the rental of a bus and truck. Cashier service will be provided for arrival and departure. Embassy Address ¶11. (SBU) The address and telephone numbers for Embassy Muscat are: Jameat al Duwal al Arabiya Street, al Khuwair North, P.O. Box 202, PC 115, Madinat Qaboos, Tel: (968) 2464-3400, Fax: (968) 2464-3740. Other outstanding questions ¶12. (SBU) The hotel rooms to be used by the CODEL have 110 volt outlets capable of supporting small appliances such as computers and printers. However, supplying all rooms with transformers would involve a purchase cost of $7,020. Please advise. Embassy has sufficient transformers to support the control and delegation rooms. Seven cell phones plus pre-paid minutes will cost $820. Please advise. Security ¶13. (SBU) Please furnish security clearances for full delegation. Embassy understands that no classified briefing is requested. Alternate Programs ¶14. (SBU) As noted above, there may be some meetings unavailable to staff and accompanying family members. The Embassy will work to cover any such exigencies. There are numerous interesting venues to visit. There may be a nominal cost for transport and entry to museums. ¶15. (SBU) In conclusion, Embassy again expresses its pleasure at the visit of CODEL Lowey. Embassy personnel look forward to working with CODEL, escorts, and staff to make this a successful and rewarding visit. Schmierer