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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02MUSCAT730 | BIN ALAWI ANGRY, FRUSTRATED BY U.S. "BIAS" TOWARDS [...] (C) SUMMARY: OMANI MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS BIN ALAWI STRONGLY CRITICIZES U.S. POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND COMPLAINS THAT U.S. IS "COMPLETELY BIASED" TOWARDS ISRAEL. BIN ALAWI SAYS THAT IT IS "IMPOSSIBLE" NOW FOR ARAB LEADERS TO CONDEMN SUICIDE BOMBING, WHICH THEY SEE NOT O [...] |
2002-04-10 14:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MEPN MU XF |
| 04MUSCAT1942 | AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION GROUNDED [...] (SBU) Summary: A long-expected pullout by British Airports Authority from the privatized consortium managing Oman's international airports means that the government will now run the airports in Muscat and Salalah. One of the alleged key sticking points was the failure of the government and the [...] |
2004-11-03 09:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EAIR EINV EFIN PGOV ECON MU |
| 04MUSCAT1943 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/03/2004 [...] (S) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 3 to reassess the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend, to discuss any security implications following the death of United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan al-N [...] |
2004-10-29 12:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT1954 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/06/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 6 to reassess the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend, to discuss any potential security implications in the event that Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Y [...] |
2004-11-07 12:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KNNP MNUC PARM KCRM AMED TBIO ABLD KSAF MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT1957 | SULTAN QABOOS' MAJLIS SPEECH [...] (SBU) Sultan Qaboos' annual address to the Majlis Oman on October 12 stuck to familiar themes in economic and foreign policy. He emphasized the usual twin pillars of economic diversification and human resource development and focused on the newly established Ministry of Tourism as sign of gov [...] |
2004-11-08 09:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT1967 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: ARAFAT, IRAQ AND BUSH VICTORY [...] On November 7, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial entitled "Palestinian Unification": "The Palestinian Authority is going through a dangerous phase. The declining health of President Yasir Arafat plays into the hands of the Israelis, who fully expect the rise o [...] |
2004-11-09 07:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT1978 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/09/2004 [...] (C) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 9 to reassess the Embassy's security posture prior to the holiday weekend and to discuss any security implications of anticipated offensive operations in Fallujah Iraq (reftel A). ---------------- [...] |
2004-11-10 11:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT1983 | OMAN ONLINE: THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2004-11-13 07:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT1991 | OMAN'S NEW MINISTER: "THE RIGHT WOMAN AT THE RIGHT [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Dr. Sharifa bint Khalfan bin Nasser al-Yahyai, Oman's new Minister of Social Development, is still getting used to her new job. Working late into the Ramadan nights to get up to speed on the workings of her ministry, she reflected on her sudden transition from academia to a sen [...] |
2004-11-13 12:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KMPI KWMN PREL SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT1993 | BIO: DR. SHARIFA AL-YAHYAI, MINISTER OF SOCIAL [...] (SBU) Reftel reported on the Ambassador's November 7 meeting with Dr. Sharifa bint Khalfan bin Nasser al-Yahyai, the newly appointed Minister of Social Development. This cable provides additional biographic information. -------- WHY HER? -------- 2. (U) Dr. Sharifa al-Yahyai, a form [...] |
2004-11-13 13:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MU |
| 04MUSCAT1995 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/13/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 13 to reassess the Embassy's security posture prior to Eid al Fitr, to evaluate the local implications per the Department's recent Public Announcement for the Middle East and North Africa (reftel A), [...] |
2004-11-13 13:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2002 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: FALLUJAH, MIDDLE EAST, ARAFAT [...] Privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on November 16 under the headline "Weak on Humanitarianism": "Recent U.S. military operations in Fallujah show a lack of humanitarian concern on the part of those charged with executing the military campaign. Innocent people are [...] |
2004-11-17 09:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2009 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/17/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 17 to reassess the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend and to discuss any security implications of recent military events in Fallujah, Iraq. ----------------------------- [...] |
2004-11-17 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2010 | REQUEST FOR SPEAKER ON WITCHES BROOM DISEASE [...] Embassy Muscat requests that IIP and EB fund one or more agricultural biotechnology speakers to participate in Sultan Qaboos University's first international conference on the "Prevention and Treatment of Witches Broom Disease of Lime Trees" which will be held March 13-16, 2005. This request i [...] |
2004-11-17 13:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON TBIO KPAO OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2011 | OMAN: POST SUPPORT FOR MEPI PROGRAM IMPLEMENTERS [...] To date there are no MEPI program implementers with offices in Oman, although we understand there may be some considering establishing a full-time presence in Muscat. Amideast is one such organization, and is currently consulting with a local law firm on the legalities and formalities of estab [...] |
2004-11-17 13:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT EAID ECON KDEM KPAO PREL KMPI MU MEPI |
| 04MUSCAT2012 | CODEL THOMAS DISCUSSES POTENTIAL FTA WITH TOP OMANI [...] SUMMARY: In lengthy meetings with Sultan Qaboos and Oman's Foreign Minister, as well as a brief but productive final meeting with the Omani Commerce Minister, CODEL Thomas took advantage of the opportunity to explore Oman's readiness to jump into full- blown free trade agreement (FTA) negotiat [...] |
2004-11-19 10:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD BEXP ECON ELAB EINV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2017 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/22/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on November 22 to reassess the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend and to discuss any possible security concerns relative to a series of upcoming Embassy and community events. ---- [...] |
2004-11-22 13:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2022 | OMANI MENAFATF DELEGATION [...] (SBU) The Embassy November 22 confirmed that Minister of National Economy (and de facto Finance Minister) Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki will lead Oman's delegation to the upcoming inaugural meeting of the MENAFATF in Bahrain, accompanied by Central Bank of Oman (CBO) Executive President Hamoud Sang [...] |
2004-11-23 07:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KTFN MU |
| 04MUSCAT2025 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ WAR AND PALESTINIAN [...] An editorial appeared in the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" on November 21 entitled "A Conflict of Wills in Iraq... Whose Victory?": "After the failed U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is necessary to convince Iraqis and Afghans that there is hope for their future and that th [...] |
2004-11-23 10:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2030 | NEW SPORTS MINISTER ON THE BALL, BUT OFF ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) Oman's energetic new Minister of Sports, Ali al-Sunaidi, shared with the Ambassador his active agenda for developing athletics in Oman. He is eager to build linkages to the U.S. and other countries, both to develop sports programs and training facilities, as well as to market Oman as an [...] |
2004-11-23 12:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON PINR SCUL OEXC SNAR TBIO ETRD MU |
| 04MUSCAT2037 | OMAN ATTENDANCE, REACTIONS TO RABAT FORUM FOR THE [...] (SBU) In a November 24 telcon, the MFA Under Secretary's Political Affairs Director, Humaid al-Maani, informed Pol/E Chief that, for the time being, neither Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi nor Minister of National Economy (and de facto Finance Minister) Ahmed bin Abduln [...] |
2004-11-24 10:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM KMPI KPAO ECON PREL |
| 04MUSCAT2047 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 11/27/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee November 27 to review both the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend and preparations for the U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to [...] |
2004-11-28 07:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC KMSG AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2050 | OMAN: US-EU DIALOGUE ON MIDDLE EAST REFORM [...] No summary [...] |
2004-11-28 08:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KMPI EAID ECON PREL PGOV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2053 | OMAN LOBBIES FOR UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE [...] (U) This is an action request for IO/T and NEA/APRI - please see para 4. 2. (U) As reported ref A, Oman is lobbying for its Permanent Representative at UNESCO, Dr. Musa bin Jaffar bin Hassan, to be elected to the presidency of the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2005. To t [...] |
2004-11-28 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MU |
| 04MUSCAT2078 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, POWELL, SYRIA, SHARM AL- [...] The lead editorial in the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" on November 29 was entitled "The Iraqi Elections": "The election in Iraq can be seen as a bottleneck, beyond which the country may be able to rebuild itself under the sheltering umbrella of a permanent constitution and representat [...] |
2004-11-30 13:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2079 | EFFORT TO LAUNCH OMAN'S FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER [...] (SBU) An aspiring activist intent on establishing Oman's first human rights center has been invited to discuss his proposal with the Ministry of Social Development. In an effort to obtain government registration, Abdullah bin Salem al-Barami solicited the Embassy for support, saying that the [...] |
2004-11-30 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV EAID SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2081 | EMBASSY MUSCAT WRITE-IN [...] (SBU) On 11/30/2004, Embassy Muscat's mailroom received, via air mail, a letter postmarked from Marysville, California 9591, 11/12/2004. Affixed to the standard white letter-sized envelope is a pre-printed return address label with the name and address of "Ms. Edna Roberts ("WRITE-IN"), P.O. B [...] |
2004-11-30 13:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC PTER MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2093 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/01/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 1 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive chang [...] |
2004-12-01 11:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2094 | OMAN ONLINE: TOPICS IN FREEDOM [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2004-12-01 11:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2096 | FOREIGNERS ALLOWED TO OWN PROPERTY IN OMAN [...] Summary: A recent decision by the Omani government allows non-Omanis to own real estate in tourist complexes licensed by the government. The decision supports government efforts to promote investment and attract foreign capital. Several prominent projects are lining up residential clients to [...] |
2004-12-02 11:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ECON CVIS MU |
| 04MUSCAT2110 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/04/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 4 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive changes [...] |
2004-12-05 03:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC PTER CASC KHLS KMSG OVIP AMGT KVPR MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2111 | OMAN: US-EU DIALOGUE ON MIDDLE EAST REFORM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Dutch Ambassador (EU Representative) reports having received no instructions from Brussels on quarterly BMENA coordination meetings with the U.S. (ref A). Furthermore, there will be no EU funds earmarked for Oman before 2007 at the earliest. Only seven EU states have missio [...] |
2004-12-05 03:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID ECON KMPI PGOV PREL MU |
| 04MUSCAT2112 | AMBITION, VISION, AND FRUSTRATION: OMANI COMMERCE [...] INR/B - please see biographic notes, para 9. ------- Summary ------- 2. (C) A rising mid-level Omani commerce official recently described the rapid decline of the Omani textile industry, her experiences within the government, the ill-timed departure of the Commerce Under Secretary, and [...] |
2004-12-05 03:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD KTEX PINR EIND PREL KWMN SCUL PGOV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2121 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: AIDS, IMPERIALISM, AND MEDIA [...] Privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial on December 1 entitled "On The Occasion Of World AIDS Day": "On the occasion of world AIDS day, Arab countries are reviewing their health policies regarding AIDS and acknowledging that more needs to be done to confront and contain t [...] |
2004-12-06 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2125 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/06/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee December 6 to review the Embassy's security posture following reports that Consulate General Jeddah had been attacked. After reviewing the known facts about the attack, members of the EAC noted there was no new [...] |
2004-12-06 13:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2126 | AMERICAN ENERGY FIRM ENJOYS STRONG IPO [...] (U) AES Barka, a subsidiary of U.S.-based AES Corporation, recently floated 11.2 million shares of its capital for public underwriting by Omanis and Omani companies. The shares correspond to 35 percent of its paid- up capital, and the preliminary response to this IPO has been extremely positiv [...] |
2004-12-07 08:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ENRG EFIN BEXP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2130 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/07/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador convened the Emergency Action Committee December 7 to review updated reporting on yesterday's terrorist attack against Consulate General Jeddah. After a careful review of the facts surrounding the attack, the EAC discussed existing countermeasures and avenues f [...] |
2004-12-07 13:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2142 | OMAN ONLINE: VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY, VISAS, INCREASED GAS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2004-12-08 13:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2143 | ECA CULTURAL ENVOYS HAVE A BALL IN OMAN [...] ECA Cultural Envoys Omari Faulkner and Courtland Freeman engaged a wide range of Omani basketball players, coaches, and students during their highly successful four-day visit to the Sultanate. Welcomed by dignitaries including the newly appointed Minister of Sports Affairs, the duo established [...] |
2004-12-08 13:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC SCUL SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2144 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/08/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on December 8 to reassess the Embassy's security posture immediately prior to the USMC Birthday Ball and to discuss any additional concerns related to the attack on Congen Jeddah earlier in the week. -------- [...] |
2004-12-08 13:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2145 | RESPONSE TO SECRETARY'S RABAT INVITATION [...] In response to reftel letter from Secretary Powell to G-8 and Broader Middle East and North Africa foreign ministers, the Embassy received December 8 a reply letter from Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah to the Secretary under cover of a diplomatic note. The [...] |
2004-12-08 14:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KMPI KDEM KPAO PREL ECON OPDC |
| 04MUSCAT2146 | OMAN DENOUNCES ATTACK ON U.S. CONSULATE IN JEDDAH [...] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement December 7 to the Oman News Agency (ONA) in reaction to the December 6 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah. Per Omani standard practice, the only available version of the MFA statement is that carried by ONA. Begin text: [...] |
2004-12-08 14:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC PTER SA MU |
| 04MUSCAT2153 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/11/2004 [...] (U) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") on December 11 to reassess the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend and to discuss any additional concerns relative to the upcoming series of Embassy-sponsored holiday events. -------------- [...] |
2004-12-11 12:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2160 | CHALLENGE FOR NEW JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION: [...] (U) The Ministry of Social Development has approved the registration of Oman's first journalism association. Under the purview of the Ministry of Information (MOI), the association has been received with considerable skepticism by journalists. Its purpose is to strengthen recognition and res [...] |
2004-12-13 07:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SOCI AORC PGOV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2165 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE, IRAQ, UN [...] On December 13, the lead editorial in the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" was entitled "Reform from Within." "The Forum for the Future in Rabat concluded with several recommendations for reform in the Arab world. Most of the recommendations fell within the framework of America's Greater [...] |
2004-12-13 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU |
| 04MUSCAT2177 | OMAN: SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY [...] (C) On December 12, visiting NEA DAS Dibble, accompanied by the Ambassador and Pol/E Chief (notetaker), paid a call on Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (YBA) to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues. Delivering the substance of the Secretary's oral messages [...] |
2004-12-14 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | KWBG EAID PREL XF MU |
| 04MUSCAT2178 | (C) OMAN FM HOSTS QUIET BILATERAL WITH ISRAELI MFA [...] (C) On December 13, at the margins of an Executive Council meeting of the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDREC), an Israeli Foreign Ministry official held a private 90-minute bilateral with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi. The discussion reportedly focused [...] |
2004-12-14 13:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL XF IS MU |
| 04MUSCAT2180 | BANNED WRITERS SPARK COMMENTARY [...] (SBU) Journalist Mohammed al-Harthi (protect) and writer Abdullah al-Riyami (protect) have been barred from publishing in all media and press in Oman for having criticized the pace of democratic reform in the country. The ban includes the withdrawal of al-Harthi's weekly column "Platforms" fr [...] |
2004-12-15 06:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2183 | AMERICAN CORNERS: FIVE IS NOT ENOUGH [...] This is an action message. Please see paragraph 8 for action requested. 2. In view of the success and popularity of Oman's five existing American Corners, Embassy Muscat requests funding for two additional ones. Suitable locations have already been identified: the Muscat Higher College o [...] |
2004-12-15 08:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KIRC OIIP SCUL MU |
| 04MUSCAT2187 | OMAN ONLINE: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, PRISONS, AND [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2004-12-15 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2188 | A WARNING FROM MOM [...] (U) On December 14, Oman's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) published an announcement warning citizens about employment in Iraq. The informal translation of the announcement is as follows (begin text): The Ministry of Manpower has noticed the increase in employment offers in the brotherly Republi [...] |
2004-12-15 14:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ELAB IZ MU |
| 04MUSCAT2189 | OMAN FONMIN ON SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE [...] (C) Visiting NEA DAS Dibble reviewed themes in the Secretary's oral message with Omani Foreign Minister Bin SIPDIS Alawi. Concerning Iran's behavior, the Minister recommended finding ways to address Tehran's security concerns and feelings of isolation as an effective means of reducing its [...] |
2004-12-16 18:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MOPS OPDC ETRD MU |
| 04MUSCAT2190 | COMMERCE MINISTER ON FTA, SAUDI CRITICISM [...] (C) Summary: Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan reassured visiting NEA DAS Philo Dibble that Oman remains firmly committed to signing a bilateral FTA with the U.S. Bluster from the Saudis notwithstanding, Maqbool reiterated that the Omani cabinet has already ap [...] |
2004-12-16 18:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PREL BEXP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2192 | 2004-05 INCSR SUBMISSION FOR OMAN [...] Oman is not a regional or offshore financial center and does not have a significant money laundering problem. Its small banking sector is supervised by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), which has the authority to suspend or reorganize a bank's operations. In 2004, Oman had a total of 17 banks wi [...] |
2004-12-18 02:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KTFN KCRM PTER SNAR EFIN MU |
| 04MUSCAT2195 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/15/2004 [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador chaired December 15 a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive changes [...] |
2004-12-18 06:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2196 | OMAN: 2004 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT [...] (U) In accordance with reftel B, paragraph 2, Embassy Muscat provides the following update to Oman's coverage in the 2003 Patterns of Global Terrorism ("Patterns") report: BEGIN TEXT Oman continued to provide public statements of support for the global war on terrorism, and has been resp [...] |
2004-12-18 10:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PTER ASEC MU |
| 04MUSCAT2200 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/18/2004 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 18 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive changes in the [...] |
2004-12-18 13:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2222 | OMAN: IFES ELECTIONS ASSESSMENT [...] (U) SUMMARY: Under the sponsorship of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) recently concluded an assessment visit to the Sultanate. The team identified several key areas for potential electoral assistance, including a need f [...] |
2004-12-21 05:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KMPI KDEM SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2223 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: CIVIL SOCIETY, FREE SPEECH, U.S. [...] No summary [...] |
2004-12-21 06:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2226 | OMANI AMBASSADOR DENIES BAN OF WRITERS [...] (U) The Omani Ambassador to the United States, Mohammed Ali al-Khusaiby, flatly denies that the Omani government has banned any writers (reftel). In a December 8 reply to the New York-based NGO Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), the Omani Ambassador reaffirmed the Sultanate's [...] |
2004-12-21 07:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV MU |
| 04MUSCAT2231 | MINISTRY CONSIDERS HUMAN RIGHTS NGO [...] (SBU) The Ministry of Social Development is considering the proposed establishment of a human rights center in Oman. In response to a letter from activist Abdullah al-Barami (reftel) (protect), the Ministry met with him December 6 to discuss the idea. The Director of Charitable Associations [...] |
2004-12-21 12:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM EAID SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2245 | U.S.-EU DIALOGUE ON MIDDLE EAST REFORM [...] No summary [...] |
2004-12-22 11:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON PGOV KMPI PREL MU |
| 04MUSCAT2246 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/22/2004 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 22 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the E [...] |
2004-12-22 12:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2251 | OMAN ONLINE: DRUG USE, WORK IN IRAQ, AND HINDUS IN OMAN [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2004-12-26 02:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 04MUSCAT2258 | CRISIS MANAGEMENT EXERCISE (CME) FOR MUSCAT [...] (SBU) The following responses are keyed to reftel, paragraph 6: A. Embassy Muscat is pleased to confirm participation in the Crisis Management Exercise (CME) scheduled for February 13-14, 2005. B. Highlighted portions of reftel paragraph 8 on the Crisis Management Training ( [...] |
2004-12-26 11:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2259 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/26/2004 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 26 to review the Embassy's security posture following to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, t [...] |
2004-12-27 02:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2265 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: U.S. WAR DEATHS, PALESTINE, IRAQ [...] The lead editorial in the privately -owned Arabic daily "Al- Watan" on December 24 was entitled "American Patience": "In 1983, when 240 Americans died in a suicide bombing in Beirut, former President Reagan immediately called for the withdrawal of all American troops stationed there. Today, [...] |
2004-12-27 11:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 04MUSCAT2269 | COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP DEMARCHE [...] (C) In a December 27 meeting with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (YBA), the Ambassador urged on behalf of the G-8 and EU missions Oman's ratification of the final two of twelve international counterterrorism conventions (reftel). The Ambassador noted that the Foreig [...] |
2004-12-28 02:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL ASEC MU |
| 04MUSCAT2278 | OMAN: NAMES, TITLES AND CONTACT NUMBERS FOR [...] No summary [...] |
2004-12-29 05:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PINR MU |
| 04MUSCAT2285 | INDIA WINS OMANI SUPPORT FOR UNSC SEAT, DEEPENS [...] (U) On December 25-26, Indian Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh met with Sultan Qaboos and various government ministers to boost bilateral relations. Oman formally announced its backing of India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and the two parties pledged to cont [...] |
2004-12-29 07:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EPET KCRM MARR IN MU |
| 04MUSCAT2291 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/29/2004 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 29 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the E [...] |
2004-12-29 13:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 04MUSCAT2292 | OMAN'S VICTORIOUS DEFEAT [...] (SBU) The wave of public excitement cresting with Oman's unprecedented finish in a regional soccer tournament has boiled over into uncharacteristic manifestations of spontaneous crowds and flag-waving patriotism. In a country bereft of past sports successes, the Gulf Cup tournament unleashed [...] |
2004-12-29 13:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1001 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/22/2005 [...] (SBU) The Charge chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 22 to review security arrangements for the Embassy's upcoming Independence Day celebration, as well as to assess the overall security environment prior to the local weekend. The EAC agreed on both security me [...] |
2005-06-22 13:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1002 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: RICE'S VISIT TO THE REGION [...] The privately owned Arabic-language daily "al-Watan" published an editorial on June 21 under the headline "Rice's Tour And Lessons Of Democracy": "Secretary Rice said that her country made a mistake when it sought to achieve stability in the Middle East at the expense of democratization, and [...] |
2005-06-22 13:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1007 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/25/2005 [...] (SBU) The Charge chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 25 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Em [...] |
2005-06-25 13:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1013 | SHOOTING AT EDUCATION MINISTRY KILLS TWO [...] (SBU) Summary: Muscat is reeling from a June 27 shooting by a disgruntled former teacher at the Ministry of Education, leaving two persons dead and at least four others in serious condition. The shooter, a religious studies teacher fired for unethical behavior, committed suicide following a pol [...] |
2005-06-27 12:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM SOCI ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT1014 | MEDIA REACTION: FOREIGN RELATIONS, BRUSSELS, IRAQ, AND [...] The government-owned Arabic-language daily "Oman" published an editorial on June 22 entitled "Distinguished Models Of Relations With Brothers And Friends": "Three recent models typify Oman's brotherly and friendly foreign relations. The first model is the 14th Session of the Oman/UAE Suprem [...] |
2005-06-27 12:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP PREL SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1027 | CSI TARGETS PORT SALALAH FOR EXPANSION [...] (U) On June 17, at the request of Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, an assessment team for the Container Security Initiative (CSI) program arrived in Oman to meet with government contacts and officials from Salalah Port Services (SPS) to discuss Oman's potential p [...] |
2005-06-29 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EWWT PARM PHSA PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1029 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/29/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 29 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed [...] |
2005-06-29 13:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1030 | OMAN ONLINE: SHOOTINGS, SCIENCE, AND STATESMEN [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-06-29 17:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI TSPL KCRM MU |
| 05MUSCAT1036 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/03/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 3 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed t [...] |
2005-07-03 12:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1043 | MEDIA REACTION: THE OIC, CONCERTS, AND LABOR LAWS [...] The privately owned Arabic-language daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on June 29 entitled "Marginalization Is The Cause Of Misunderstandings": "The recently concluded meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Yemen was a useful forum to address common interests and con [...] |
2005-07-04 11:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP ELAB EAID MU |
| 05MUSCAT1045 | OMAN RATIFIES ILO FORCED LABOR AND MINIMUM AGE [...] (U) A royal decree of July 3 ratified International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions 105 and 138, Abolition of Forced Labor and Minimum Age of Employment. The new decree followed the recent return of Oman's National Committee representatives from the ILO General Conference in Geneva. In l [...] |
2005-07-05 07:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD PREL SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1051 | FONMIN ON REGIONAL ISSUES, STRIKES DOMESTIC CHORD [...] (SBU) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi gave a wide-ranging interview to a UAE-based newspaper in late-June that garnered an unusual reaction. Speaking on foreign policy issues, the Minister defended USG support for Palestine and security efforts in Iraq, as well as U.S. [...] |
2005-07-06 07:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER SOCI KISL ETRD OPRC XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1058 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/06/2005 [...] (SBU) The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission (A/DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 6 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingl [...] |
2005-07-06 10:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1061 | OMAN ONLINE: DISARMAMENT, DISCONTENT, AND DISSENSION [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-07-06 11:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1062 | DONTVISITOMAN.COM OUTRAGES OMANIS [...] (SBU) An AmCit arrested in March and deported in May for illegally collecting meteorites has recounted his trying legal experience in Oman on a provocative website: dontvisitoman.com. The website has received widespread commentary from Omani citizens, who are stunned at its malicious characte [...] |
2005-07-06 12:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CASC EIND SOCI PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1064 | TFUK01: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/07/2005 [...] (SBU) Pursuant to references A through D, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 7 to review the Embassy's security posture in light of the terrorist bombings that targeted London's transport system. Members noted no substantive changes in the local [...] |
2005-07-07 15:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1066 | TFUK01: OMAN CONDEMNS LONDON TERROR ATTACK [...] Oman News Agency (ONA) and all major Omani print and broadcast media reported July 8 a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denouncing the July 7 terror attacks in London. The text of the ONA report is as follows: (Begin text) An official spokesman of the Foreign Ministry yeste [...] |
2005-07-08 09:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC PTER MU |
| 05MUSCAT1067 | OMAN DENOUNCES MURDER OF EGYPTIAN DIPLOMAT IN IRAQ [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-08 09:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER OPRC MU IZ |
| 05MUSCAT1080 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/09/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 9 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-07-09 12:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1089 | MEDIA REACTION: SUDAN, WAR, FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on July 11 entitled "Sudan on the Right Path": "After an interminable period of conflict, Sudan finally took a step forward when it decided to push ahead with a national compromise. This compromise serves as a lesson on how to [...] |
2005-07-11 10:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1092 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: TERRORIST ATTACKS IN LONDON [...] The government-owned Arabic-language daily "Oman" published an editorial on July 11 entitled "The Search For Solutions To Violence": "Wars do not solve the phenomena of terrorism and violence. The solution requires a serious effort to understand terrorism's roots and causes. British PM Ton [...] |
2005-07-12 10:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP PTER PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT11 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: SADDAM TRIAL, ISRAEL, AND THE [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on December 30 under the title "You Too": "The United States is not insisting on the death penalty as punishment for the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Saddam Hussein. Yet Iraqi judges intend on prosecuting him to the f [...] |
2005-01-03 13:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT110 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/18/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 18 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the Eid al Adha holiday. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC [...] |
2005-01-18 11:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1103 | OMAN ONLINE: IEDs, INTERFERENCE, AND IMMIGRATION [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-07-13 11:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1104 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/13/2005 [...] (SBU) The Acting Deputy Chief of Mission (A/DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 13 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingl [...] |
2005-07-13 11:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1109 | NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NOMINEE JAILED [...] (SBU) An outspoken elected former Shura Council deputy and current Nobel Prize nominee was sentenced July 13 by a Muscat court for insulting government officials in connection with the controversial arrests of Ibadhi activists charged by the government of belonging to an illegal organization. [...] |
2005-07-16 02:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL SOCI PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1117 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/16/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 16 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the [...] |
2005-07-16 11:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT112 | OMAN: COMMENTS ON U.S. MARKET ACCESS PRIORITIES [...] Per reftel instructions, this cable outlines the Embassy's assessment of market access priorities for U.S. service suppliers in Oman. 2. U.S. Market Access Priority by Sector (ranked from 1 to 5, with 1 as the highest priority and 5 as the lowest) and by informal ranking of relative market [...] |
2005-01-18 12:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV BEXP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1123 | INTO THE LION'S DEN: ADDRESSING THE COMMAND AND [...] (U) The Ambassador delivered his annual address to the Omani Command and Staff College on July 13, followed by an intense question and answer session. Fielding questions on a broad range of topics, including the war in Iraq, the legal status of Guantanamo detainees, the Palestinian-Israeli pea [...] |
2005-07-18 03:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC KDEM KMPI KPAO XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT113 | OMAN ONLINE: AMENDING LAWS REGULATING FOREIGN WORKERS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2005-01-18 12:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1132 | ORDER, DISSENT, AND THE INTERNET [...] (SBU) The Omani authorities have incarcerated an outspoken former parliamentarian and questioned a banned writer/activist for making critical remarks about senior government officials. On the heels of pardoning 31 Ibadhis who were convicted of belonging to an illegal organization, the authori [...] |
2005-07-19 01:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL SOCI PINR PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT1136 | MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL/PALESTINE; INFLUENCE AND [...] "Al-Watan," a privately-owned Arabic daily, carried an editorial on July 15 under the headline "The Palestinian Conflict And Urgent Questions": "We are now witnessing an elected Palestinian political authority making successful decisions to peacefully fulfill the goals of its people. Howeve [...] |
2005-07-19 06:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1139 | INVESTORS POUR $1.2B INTO TELECOMS IPO [...] (SBU) More than 163,000 citizens contributed more than $1.2 billion to the oversubscribed and long-anticipated initial public offering of the state-owned Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel). The most popular IPO in Oman's history opened at $3.10 a share; prices are expected to surge whe [...] |
2005-07-19 08:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECPS KPRV ETRD ECON EINV EFIN MU |
| 05MUSCAT1141 | INSIGHTS INTO OMAN'S GENERAL RESERVE FUND [...] (U) This cable contains business proprietary information; please protect. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) A royal official working for the State General Reserve Fund recently revealed to a private sector investment broker rare insights into the investment habits of the SGRF. A quart [...] |
2005-07-20 03:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN EINV ECON EPET PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT1147 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/20/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 20 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-07-20 10:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1153 | OMANI OPINION MAKERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST RELIGIOUS [...] Following the recent wave of violence in Iraq, including Omani denunciations of the terror attack in London and murder of the Egyptian ambassador-designate in Baghdad (ref B), there have been further statements by the government and press aimed at turning people away from extremist, violent re [...] |
2005-07-20 12:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KISL KPAO PTER PGOV PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1154 | NEW JOURNAL TACKLES FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION [...] "Our Daughters: Circumcision and Concealment" was the cover story in the inaugural issue of "Futoon" family magazine. The hardhitting article described the four types of surgical procedures in detail and recounted personal stories of how the procedure harmed the lives of four Omani women. T [...] |
2005-07-20 12:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN SOCI PHUM MU |
| 05MUSCAT1157 | OMAN ONLINE: MORE PARDONS, LESS PAPERS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-07-21 06:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1159 | QABOOS PARDONS HUNDREDS [...] (SBU) Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree that pardoned hundreds of prisoners, allegedly including military officers, who were recently sentenced for their involvement in a secret and illegal Ibadhi organization. The announcement of the royal pardons neither specifically referred to the milita [...] |
2005-07-21 06:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KJUS KISL PINS MU |
| 05MUSCAT1167 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/23/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 23 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed tha [...] |
2005-07-23 12:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1169 | OMAN DENOUNCES EGYPT TERROR ATTACK [...] No summary [...] |
2005-07-24 08:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER OPRC EG MU |
| 05MUSCAT1171 | BIN ALAWI UPBEAT ON DEFEATING TERRORISM [...] Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi extensively devoted his July 23 Renaissance Day remarks, typically used to review the ministry's achievements in the preceding year, to the international problem of terrorism. Speaking to Radio Oman's "Festival Nights" program from his r [...] |
2005-07-24 09:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER OPRC XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1183 | MEDIA REACTION: SHARM EL-SHEIKH AND THE ROOTS OF TERROR [...] "Al-Watan," a privately-owned Arabic daily, carried an op-ed piece by Mohammed Naji Amayrah on July 24 under the headline "The Sharm El-Sheikh Explosions And The Search For Actual Causes": "The explosions in Sharm El-Sheikh killed more than 80 people, most of whom were Egyptians. In the face [...] |
2005-07-26 09:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1184 | OMAN ONLINE: TERROR AND TANCREDO [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-07-27 03:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1185 | BIO: RAJIHA BINT ABDUL AMER BIN ALI, MINISTER OF [...] (C) Per ref A, the requested information on Oman's female Minister of Tourism is provided below, keyed to ref A para 3 format. Much of this information was provided previously in ref B. 2. (U) Rajiha bint Abdul Amer bin Ali, Minister of Tourism (since 2004) A. (U) Born: April 12, 1953; [...] |
2005-07-27 12:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT1186 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/27/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 27 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-07-27 12:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1190 | OMAN OPPOSES G-4 RESOLUTION, STUDIES OTHER REFORMS [...] (C) The MFA's International Organizations Department Chief confirmed on July 27 that Oman will either oppose or abstain in any vote on the G-4 Resolution for UN Security Council expansion. Ambassador Talib al-Raisi added that Oman has actively urged the resident G-4 ambassadors not to put the [...] |
2005-07-27 12:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV |
| 05MUSCAT1191 | OPPENHEIMER OPTIMISM ON OMANI TOURISM [...] (U) Summary: The Ambassador met with representatives of Oppenheimer and Fitch Ratings on July 27 to discuss the "Blue City" tourism project and other economic developments in Oman. Potential linkages with Boston University and Oppenheimer of North America also surfaced during the meeting. E [...] |
2005-07-27 19:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON EIND PGOV KMPI KPAO SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1199 | TOURISM PROJECTS PROLIFERATE [...] (U) With Oman aggressively marketing itself as an environmentally conscious tourist destination, international investors are taking advantage of significant improvements in local infrastructure to develop ambitious new tourist projects. U.S. construction and financial firms are joining a slew [...] |
2005-07-30 08:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON EIND MU |
| 05MUSCAT1203 | TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI AWAITS SENTENCING [...] (SBU) On July 30, a Muscat court released Taybah al-Ma'wali on bail until a verdict on her appeal is announced around August 3. According to family members, al-Ma'wali had been in hiding since she was sentenced in absentia on July 13 to one and a half years in prison. On July 30, however, al [...] |
2005-07-30 11:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL SOCI PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1206 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 07/30/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 30 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed tha [...] |
2005-07-30 12:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1208 | OMAN SEEKS MORE INFORMATION ON NATO [...] (U) This is an action request - see para 7. 2. (C) Summary: A senior Omani diplomat says Oman's unwillingness to engage in NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) stems from the impression that NATO members lack a common conception of what ICI should be, and the fear that its aims are [...] |
2005-07-31 02:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1214 | MEDIA REACTION: SHARM SUMMIT EXPECTATIONS [...] "Al-Watan," a privately-owned Arabic daily, carried an editorial on July 31 entitled "By Protecting Egypt We Protect Ourselves": "Although the coming summit is an Egyptian summit made for Egypt, it is also created for the whole Arab world and for the protection of humanity... This summit is [...] |
2005-08-02 06:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1218 | OMAN ONLINE: THREATS AGAINST FOREIGNERS; KING FAHD'S [...] (U) Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free [...] |
2005-08-03 07:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1230 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/06/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 6 to review the Embassy's security posture following the extended local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agree [...] |
2005-08-06 12:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1237 | CAMEL JOCKEY AGE LIMITS INCREASED [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-07 11:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ETRD ELAB PREL KOCI SCUL MU UNICEF |
| 05MUSCAT1238 | TAYBAH AL-MA'WALI SENTENCE REDUCED TO 6 MONTHS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-07 11:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SOCI PREL PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1243 | MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, SUDAN, AND REFORM IN THE ARAB [...] Issa Al-Zedjali, editor in chief of Arabic daily "Al- Shabibah," wrote an editorial on August 7 under the headline "Americans Begin Losing Control in Iraq": "The Iraqi crisis is getting worse day by day, and there is no let up in sight. The commander of the American forces in Iraq has acknow [...] |
2005-08-08 13:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT125 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: DISASTERS, DISTRUST, AND [...] The privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on January 23 entitled, "Disasters Get Smaller Except in Iraq and Palestine": "It is said that disasters seem smaller with the passage of time, but it is more likely that our hopes grow larger to erase the pain caused by disa [...] |
2005-01-24 12:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1250 | BIO: SHARIFA BINT KHALFAN AL-YAHYAI, MINISTER OF [...] (C) The requested information on Oman's female Minister of Social Development is provided below, keyed to ref A para 3 format. Much of this information was provided previously in ref B. 2. (U) Dr. Sharifa bint Khalfan bin Nasser al-Yahyai, Minister of Social Development (since October 20, [...] |
2005-08-10 07:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1253 | FM POSITIVE ON IRAQ, GAZA [...] (U) Local and regional media gave wide coverage to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi's August 7 press comments on Iraq and Palestine. Meeting his Egyptian counterpart and Arab League SecGen Moussa to discuss the postponed AL summit, Bin Alawi said that Iraqi political f [...] |
2005-08-10 12:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OPRC XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1255 | FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS CAUTIOUS ON IRAN [...] (C) Though Iran's new president is still largely an unknown quantity in Oman, two Foreign Ministry officials suggested that his recent provocative statements on resuming uranium conversion are more likely political bluster than actual policy. They preached engagement with Iran as the best way [...] |
2005-08-11 10:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1256 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/10/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 10 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that th [...] |
2005-08-11 11:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1259 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/13/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 13 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-08-13 12:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1272 | MEDIA REACTION: THE NEW IRAQI CONSTITUTION [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" featured an editorial on August 10 entitled "Issues Blocking Efforts for Drafting Iraqi Constitution": "There are many difficult issues and complicated questions facing the drafting committee of the new Iraqi constitution. Conflicting political pow [...] |
2005-08-15 12:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1277 | ILO, UNICEF KUDOS FOR OMANI CAMEL RACING REFORM [...] (SBU) The regional directors for UNICEF and the ILO met on August 14 with Sports Minister Ali al-Sunaidi to discuss Omani camel racing reforms. The government is not only gradually raising jockey age limits from 14 to 18 years, but is also setting minimum age standards for camels because matu [...] |
2005-08-17 08:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ELAB KOCI SCUL ETRD PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1278 | OMAN ONLINE: TAYBAH, TERROR, AND ISLAMIC EDUCATION [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-08-17 11:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1288 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/20/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 20 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-08-21 11:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1289 | CHILD LABOR UPDATE FOR OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-08-21 13:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1291 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM GAZA [...] Essa bin Mohammed al-Zedjali, owner of the Arabic daily "al- Shabibah," penned an op-ed piece in the August 21 issue (which was translated and reprinted in its sister English-language daily "Times of Oman") entitled "Sharon Replaces Gaza With West Bank": "The dismantling of the settlements in [...] |
2005-08-22 07:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1302 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/24/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 24 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that th [...] |
2005-08-24 14:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1304 | SULTAN SENDS ENVOY TO NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT [...] (SBU) On August 20, former Information Minister and the Sultan's longtime special interlocutor on Iran issues, Abdulaziz al-Rawas, paid an introductory call in Tehran on new Iranian President Ahmadinejad, delivering a personal letter from Sultan Qaboos. According to local press reports, prior [...] |
2005-08-24 14:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1305 | OMAN ONLINE: REPORTING EVACUATIONS AND VACUOUS REPORTING [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-08-24 14:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1311 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 08/27/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on August 27 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-08-27 13:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER ABLD CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1321 | MEDIA REACTION: GAZA, THE WEST, AND IRAQ [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" featured an editorial on August 29 entitled "The Other Side Of Gaza Disengagement": "The world has now started to realize Sharon's real intentions after disengaging from Gaza. He immediately began building a discrimination wall around Jerusalem in [...] |
2005-08-29 11:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1327 | OMAN OFFERS OVERSTAYERS AN EASY EXIT [...] (SBU) In an effort to spur the exit of expatriates who have overstayed their visas, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) eased departure regulations and urged all persons on expired visas to pay a one-time fee of $655 USD and depart the country without hindrance by August 19. The offer did not apply t [...] |
2005-08-30 08:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM SMIG SOCI PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1341 | OMAN ONLINE: PREAMBLES, PLANES, AND PRAYERS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-09-05 05:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1346 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/05/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 5 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agr [...] |
2005-09-06 04:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT135 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/25/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee January 25 to review the Embassy's security posture following the Eid al-Adha holiday. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agr [...] |
2005-01-25 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1350 | UN SUMMIT OUTCOME DOCUMENT, DEVELOPMENT ISSUES [...] (C) On September 5, Pol/Econ Chief delivered ref demarches to MFA International Organization Department Chief Ambassador Talib Miran al-Raisi. Ambassador al-Raisi acknowledged USG desires for flexibility in negotiations, and agreed that a separate declaration on innovative sources of financing [...] |
2005-09-07 09:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECIN EAID EFIN MU |
| 05MUSCAT1355 | OMANI VIEWS ON UN REFORM ISSUES, MDA [...] (C) On September 5, the Omani MFA IO Chief reiterated the Sultanate's opposition to the G-4 plan for UN Security Council expansion. While sympathizing with USG views on a proposed Human Rights Council and Peacebuilding Commission, he forecast that Oman would remain on the sidelines of those d [...] |
2005-09-07 10:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM MU |
| 05MUSCAT1356 | MEDIA REACTION: HURRICANE KATRINA, PALESTINE [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial entitled "The Moment Of Truth" on September 3: "The entire world sympathized with the victims of Hurricane Katrina, despite the differences of political opinion that exist between the U.S. and the rest of the world. However, [...] |
2005-09-07 10:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1360 | OMAN ONLINE: HURRICANES AND HIGH REGARD [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-09-07 14:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1361 | OMANI EXPECTATIONS FOR ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL [...] (C) The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects Arab League praise for the Gaza withdrawal and Iraq's constitutional process, and a firm denunciation of terrorism. The League will likely push for further implementation of the Roadmap, and informally pressure Syria to improve its cooperation [...] |
2005-09-07 15:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT1363 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/07/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 7 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, [...] |
2005-09-10 11:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1372 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/10/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 10 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed tha [...] |
2005-09-11 13:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1374 | POOR TIMING OF OMANI VISIT TO SYRIA [...] (C) The Foreign Ministry has acknowledged Omani press reports that National Economy Minister Macki is traveling to Damascus for a 3-day session of the Oman-Syria Joint Commission, commencing on September 12. While the previously planned visit will seal investment and double-taxation agreement [...] |
2005-09-11 14:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON SY MU |
| 05MUSCAT1381 | MEDIA REACTION: 9/11, ISRAEL, AND UNITED NATIONS REFORM [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial entitled "Silence Followed By A Question" on September 12: "The whole world mourns the victims of 9/11 in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. However, after a respectful minute of silence, the world will want to raise qu [...] |
2005-09-13 05:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1396 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/14/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 14 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, [...] |
2005-09-14 13:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1397 | OMAN ONLINE: BLOTS, BROADCASTS, AND BOATS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-09-14 13:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1404 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/17/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 17 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed tha [...] |
2005-09-17 14:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1413 | MEDIA REACTION: THE NEED TO DEFINE TERRORISM [...] On September 18, privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" featured an editorial entitled "Oman's Call To Define Terrorism": "Demanding a clear definition of terrorism, and differentiating between terrorism and legal resistance, was the main demand made by the Sultanate in its speech at the UN [...] |
2005-09-19 12:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT142 | ELECTIONS ESTABLISH OMAN'S FIRST WORKERS' [...] Assistant United States Trade Representative (AUSTR) for Labor William Clatanoff recently met with officials at the Oman Ministry of Manpower and the Under Secretary of Commerce and Industry to discuss trade and labor- related issues. While talks focused on Oman's first elected workers' repr [...] |
2005-01-26 09:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1434 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/21/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 21 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-09-21 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1437 | OMAN ONLINE: LOW-SPEED INTERNET, UN SPEECH, AND CHARITY [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-09-21 15:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1439 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/24/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 24 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed tha [...] |
2005-09-25 04:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1442 | THE INN CROWD [...] (U) Summary: A sprawling new Muscat resort complex slated for a soft-opening in November shoulders high expectations for raising Oman's international profile as a tourist and conference center destination, adding jobs to the economy, and alleviating a winter shortage of hotel rooms and confer [...] |
2005-09-25 12:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAIR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1444 | MEDIA REACTION: VARIOUS VIEWS OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE [...] On September 23, the privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial entitled "Who Will Protect The Palestinians From Sharon's Threats?": "The gap continues to widen between Palestinian and Israeli behavior. Israel insists on the methods of violence, forced arrests, and destr [...] |
2005-09-26 10:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1446 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/26/2005 [...] (S/NF) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 26 to review the Embassy's security posture after receiving threat information related to Oman (ref B). The EAC agreed that due to the lack of target specificity, the Embassy's already heightene [...] |
2005-09-27 03:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1452 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 09/28/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on September 28 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-09-28 13:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1458 | SULTAN APPOINTS FEMALE AMBASSADOR TO U.S. [...] No summary [...] |
2005-09-30 19:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1461 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/01/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 1 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, t [...] |
2005-10-01 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1463 | OMAN PINS TEXTILE HOPES ON FTA [...] (SBU) Government statistics point to a continuing decline in Omani textile production in terms of value and employment. Manufacturers are pinning their hopes on the pending U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement to at least slow this trend. End Summary. -------------------- STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT - [...] |
2005-10-01 13:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTEX ECON ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT1473 | SULTAN'S ANNUAL ADDRESS [...] (SBU) Sultan Qaboos' October 1 annual address to the Majlis Oman, lasting under 15 minutes, focused almost entirely on the human resource development, making only a brief reference to foreign affairs and offering little in the way of new initiatives or reforms. Popular hopes that long-unchang [...] |
2005-10-03 14:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT1475 | COMBATING EXTREMISM IN OMAN [...] (S) The Embassy's outreach and public diplomacy efforts, filtering down into every social strata and region of the Sultanate, have promoted a consistently positive image of U.S. society and culture that have complemented the Omani government's own effective actions to counter or prevent extrem [...] |
2005-10-04 04:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | KDEM KPAO KMPI PREL EAID PHUM PGOV ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT148 | ARRESTS SPARK CONTROVERSY, SEND SIGNAL [...] (SBU) Omani chat-rooms and dinner conversations have been dominated in recent weeks by widely held rumors that the security services have arrested a dozen Omani citizens in late-night raids spread across three separate regions. While the government has not publicly acknowledged the arrests d [...] |
2005-01-26 13:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PGOV PINS SCUL ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT1481 | MEDIA REACTION: IRAN, THE SUPERPOWERS, AND PALESTINE [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial entitled "Could the Tug Of War Succeed In Politics?" on October 1: "The tug of war between the West and the Islamic Republic of Iran over Tehran's nuclear program seems dangerous, but it might actually be a successful policy. [...] |
2005-10-04 05:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | IR KPAL NOTAG IS |
| 05MUSCAT1482 | OMAN ONLINE: STORMS, WEAPONS, ALIENS, AND DIPLOMATS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-04 05:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1488 | OMAN PASSES ON AVIAN FLU PARTNERSHIP [...] (SBU) Summary. A Ministry of Health official said that Oman will not participate in the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza (IPAPI), or in the October 6-7 senior officials meeting. However, he outlined the steps that Oman has already undertaken steps to prepare for a po [...] |
2005-10-05 05:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO KSCA EAGR ECON PREL SOCI MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT149 | OMAN ONLINE: DOLLARS AND DISTORTIONS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2005-01-26 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1493 | DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN - QUARTERLY [...] (SBU) The following quarterly update on mission implementation of the Oman Democratic Reform Strategy is keyed to the three goals established in ref A, namely: legislative strengthening, media reform and NGO empowerment. ------------------------- Legislative Strengthening ------------------ [...] |
2005-10-05 09:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM KMPI ECON PHUM MU |
| 05MUSCAT1498 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/05/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 5 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that th [...] |
2005-10-05 12:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1499 | OMAN ONLINE: FREE TRADE (AND FREE TAYBAH!) [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-05 13:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT150 | FTA PREPARATION: MEPI-FUNDED SEMINAR DRAWS LARGE [...] (SBU/NF) A recent MEPI-funded seminar in Muscat on Trade in Services attracted over 75 participants from a dozen Omani government agencies as well as the private sector. The highly interactive two-day event revealed several areas of concern leading up to the March opening of free trade agreem [...] |
2005-01-26 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD BEXP KMPI EFIN EINV ECON PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1500 | OMANTEL PRESIDENT TALKS BUSINESS, BOYCOTT [...] (U) Summary: A meeting between Omantel's Executive President, Embassy and U.S. Department of Commerce officials produced positive results in removing boycott language from company documents. The company's president also stressed the importance of streamlining procurement decisions to Omantel's [...] |
2005-10-05 13:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ECON ECPS KBCT MU |
| 05MUSCAT1501 | OMAN PORT EXPANSIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: Two of Oman's principal ports, Sohar and Salalah, are aggressively moving forward on expansion of their respective operations. The Sohar Industrial Port Company is holding a November conference to introduce itself to the region, while Salalah Port Services is pitching expansio [...] |
2005-10-05 13:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EIND EWWT EINV MU |
| 05MUSCAT151 | OIL SPILL CLOSES PORT SALALAH FOR 48 HOURS [...] (C) Three tons of oil spilled into the port of Salalah January 18 after a routine bunkering operation went awry. The immediate cause of the accident appears to be human error aboard the "Maersk Greenwich." Based on preliminary information regarding the actions taken by Port Salalah and the [...] |
2005-01-26 13:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | SENV EWWT PHSA ETRD EPET MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT1511 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/09/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 9 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-10-10 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1512 | MEDIA REACTION: NOBEL PRIZE, IRAN, MIDDLE EAST [...] The privately-owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial on October 9 entitled "Has Alfred Nobel's Mission Been Achieved?": "Granting the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Atomic Energy Agency and its director, Dr. Mohammed al-Baradei, is in itself a noble message. However, we [...] |
2005-10-10 12:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1513 | OMAN AFFIRMS NO BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL [...] (SBU) On September 28, 2005, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, transmitted a letter, via facsimile, to the Embassy for transmission to Robert Portman, United States Trade Representative. (Begin letter text) Please accept my congratulations on your recent appoin [...] |
2005-10-11 03:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KBCT ETRD ECON PGOV IS MU |
| 05MUSCAT1514 | NEW OMANI AMBASSADOR IS ALL BUSINESS [...] (U) Summary: In a meeting with U.S. and Omani business executives, Oman's new ambassador-designate to the U.S. Hunaina al-Mughairy expressed optimism over the bilateral economic relationship and elicited the assistance of the business community in identifying project opportunities -- and obst [...] |
2005-10-11 03:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ECON PREL PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT1524 | OMAN ONLINE: DEMOCRACY AND IRRESPONSIBILITY [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective [...] |
2005-10-12 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1525 | ALL JAZZED UP IN OMAN [...] From September 24-27, the Mike del Ferro Trio, plus vocalist Adrienne West, conducted a highly successful series of performances and workshops in Muscat. Under the auspices of the "American Voices" program, the group introduced jazz, swing, and blues to a wide range of Oman's citizens, and eve [...] |
2005-10-12 12:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SCUL OEXC MU |
| 05MUSCAT1532 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/12/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 12 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-10-12 14:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1533 | TFPK01: OMAN GRANTS BLANKET OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-13 07:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC MARR PREL AMGT CASC PK |
| 05MUSCAT1534 | MGIZ02: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION [...] (C) The Ambassador spoke on October 13 with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi to deliver reftel demarche encouraging Oman's public support for the October 15 Iraqi constitutional referendum and the compromises reached October 12. 2. (C) Bin Alawi hailed the compromis [...] |
2005-10-13 10:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1540 | OMAN SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ REFERENDUM [...] (SBU) As requested in several demarches, the Omani government gave strong public encouragement for the Iraqi constitutional referendum process in the days leading up to the October 15 balloting. Editorials have hailed the referendum as a historic opportunity to secure future Iraqi stability, [...] |
2005-10-15 13:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL OPRC IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1541 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/15/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 15 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend, and to discuss security preparations for the upcoming 230th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Noting no substantive changes in the [...] |
2005-10-15 13:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC KMSG AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1547 | EXBS STRATEGY FOR OMAN [...] (SBU) EXBS Advisor recently met with Omani officials, Embassy staff and representatives of the Department of Energy's MEGAPORTS Initiative to discuss the current state of Export Controls and Related Border Security in Oman. Oman, a recent addition to both the Container Security Initiative (CS [...] |
2005-10-16 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP JO MU |
| 05MUSCAT1549 | MEDIA REACTION: REFERENDUM IN IRAQ [...] "Oman," the government-owned Arabic daily, ran an editorial on October 17 entitled "After The Iraqi Constitution": "An unofficial announcement suggests that sixty-six percent of the Iraqi people have approved a constitutional referendum, despite overwhelming opposition from Sunni Arabs. If ( [...] |
2005-10-17 10:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1564 | MAKING WAVES IN OMAN [...] (U) Summary: In a move that surprised many observers, the Ministry of Information has granted television and radio broadcasting licenses to two private Omani companies. While this will effectively end the government's broadcasting monopoly, the licensees anticipate having to work closely wit [...] |
2005-10-18 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ECPS EINT PHUM PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT1565 | OMAN READY TO SIGN MEGAPORTS/CSI DOP [...] Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi informed the Ambassador on October 17 that the Omani government is ready to sign the Department of Homeland Security's Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Department of Energy's Megaports Initiative combined Declaration of Princ [...] |
2005-10-18 12:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETTC PARM MNUC PREL KSTC KNNP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1577 | OMAN ONLINE: CONSTITUTIONS, COLONIALISM, AND CACOPHONY [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2005-10-19 13:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI KISL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1578 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/19/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 19 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-10-19 13:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1580 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 10/22/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 22 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-10-22 13:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1582 | WINDFALL FOR SOME, INFLATION FOR ALL [...] (U) Summary: Increasing oil prices have provided a windfall for the Omani government, even as its production declines. Consumer prices have risen accordingly, however, and some question whether the benefit of higher oil revenues is reaching the general public. End summary. --------------- [...] |
2005-10-23 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ENRG EPET PGOV SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1588 | MEDIA REACTION: MEHLIS REPORT, ARAB LEAGUE, AND SYRIA [...] The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" ran an editorial on October 23 entitled "About The Mehlis Report": "The Mehlis report was well-received in Lebanon, but it would have been better for Mr. Mehlis to provide us with a comprehensive report, supported by substantial evidence and buttre [...] |
2005-10-25 04:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1589 | OMAN MEDIA PLAY: U.S. SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-10-25 04:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KISL PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1597 | OMAN'S RESPONSE TO WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL [...] Per reftel request for information on Oman's compliance with new regulations governing wood packaging material, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed its response through diplomatic correspondence dated October 24, 2005. 2. Begin informal translation of the operative paragraphs: "The [...] |
2005-10-25 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ETRD MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT1606 | INDIAN OVERSTAYERS OFFERED EASY OUT [...] The Indian Embassy has announced that it has struck a deal with the Omani Ministry of Manpower to facilitate the exit of all Indian nationals currently in Oman on expired employment visas. The move comes as a welcome reprieve to thousands of unemployed Indians incapable of paying overstay fi [...] |
2005-10-26 10:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB PHUM SMIG SOCI PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1608 | OMAN ONLINE: HOT TOPICS FROM AFGHANISTAN, LEBANON, AND [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2005-10-26 12:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT161 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/29/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee January 29 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed th [...] |
2005-01-30 09:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1634 | MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ/SYRIA AND ISRAEL/PALESTINE [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" ran an editorial on October 31 entitled "Will The Iraq Scenario Be Repeated?": "Perhaps the fears of Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister are justified regarding a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force against Damascus, particularly in [...] |
2005-11-01 04:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT164 | A DAY AT THE (CAMEL) RACES [...] (SBU/NF) In contrast to the high-stakes commercial camel racing popular elsewhere in the Gulf, camel racing in Oman is a decidedly more humble, traditional event primarily practiced by rural Bedouin tribes. PolOff recently attended a typical race in Oman's dusty Sharqiyah region, observing h [...] |
2005-01-31 02:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM SCUL PGOV ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT1643 | OMAN ONLINE: ELECTRIFYING THE SULTANATE [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2005-11-01 13:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT165 | ECONOMISTS' FTA FRUSTRATIONS, CONCERN FOR FUTURE [...] (C) Two Omani economics professors recently discussed with Econoff the upcoming free trade agreement (FTA), the state of the Omani economy, and prospects for Omani college graduates. The academics displayed a subtle but unmistakable sense of frustration and isolation in their university settin [...] |
2005-01-31 02:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV ELAB EPET EIND SOCI PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT17 | USG CALL FOR DONOR SUPPORT TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-01-04 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR EAID PGOV PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1703 | MEDIA REACTION: AMMAN BOMBINGS, ARAB LEAGUE EFFORTS, AND [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" featured an editorial on November 11 under the headline "Terrorism Strikes Again" [Note: as reported reftel, the Omani government issued a strong condemnation of the terrorist bombings on November 9. End note.]: "Terrorism has struck again - this tim [...] |
2005-11-15 13:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT1746 | OMAN ONLINE: BARBARIANS, BAD SHOWS, BIG BROTHER, AND [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2005-11-22 20:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1871 | OMAN ONLINE: SUICIDE, SHEIKAHS, AND STRIKES [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2005-12-15 17:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1874 | UNION-RELATED STRIKE SHUTS SALALAH PORT [...] (SBU) Port Salalah, Oman's leading container transshipment facility, was shut down December 11-12 following an impromptu employees walk-out spurred, apparently, by management's decision to fire the popular head of the workers' committee. Though strikes are not unprecedented in Oman, this walk-o [...] |
2005-12-17 03:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB EWWT PGOV ETRD ECON PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT1876 | OMANI INSIGHTS INTO IRAN AND IRAQ FOR NEA DAS GRAY [...] (C) Calling Iran's political scene and new government a sea of "shifting sands," royal adviser Abdulaziz al-Rawas suggested that U.S. threats have only served to shore up hardliners' support in Iranian society, and that a more positive approach should be adopted. Separately, MFA Under Secreta [...] |
2005-12-17 04:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER IR IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT193 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/02/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee February 2 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that [...] |
2005-02-02 12:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER KMSG KHLS KVPR CASC MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT1934 | GEN ABIZAID'S DECEMBER 26 MEETING WITH SULTAN [...] (C) In a convivial 80-minute exchange on December 26, Sultan Qaboos shared with USCENTCOM CDR Gen Abizaid his thoughts on Iraq, Iran, the war on terror and the state of bilateral relations. Agreeing with Gen Abizaid on many points, the Sultan argued for a less intrusive Arab role in Iraq's tr [...] |
2005-12-31 05:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PTER PGOV XF IR IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT1939 | HOUSE CALL ON GENETIC RESEARCH [...] (SBU) On December 13, the Ambassador received a delegation of four geneticists from Harvard Medical School and their colleague from the Omani Ministry of Health. The group discussed their collaborative research into the genetic mutations that are causing such a high incidence of neurological [...] |
2005-12-31 13:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO SCUL SOCI TSPL MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT194 | OMAN ONLINE: OMANI DETAINEES AND IRAQI ELECTIONS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majara" -- are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor [...] |
2005-02-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT1940 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/31/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on December 31 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend and prior to the New Year holiday. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last me [...] |
2005-12-31 13:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT196 | IRAQ ELECTIONS - OMAN KEEPS MUM [...] (C) Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, currently on travel in Asia, has rebuffed admonitions for the Omani government to make a public statement welcoming the January 30 elections in Iraq. Despite headline-grabbing news of arrests in the Sultanate (ref A), press attention to the [...] |
2005-02-02 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM SOCI IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT2 | OMAN FM ON IRAN, IRAQ, GCC AND PALESTINE [...] (C) FM Yusuf bin Alawi shared his views with the Ambassador on Iran's relations with the region, noting his interest in visiting Tehran but ruling out a state visit by the Sultan. He is optimistic that Qatar will take positive action to rein in abuses by the Al Jazeera network, and is likewis [...] |
2005-01-01 03:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS ETRD XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT203 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/05/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee February 5 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed th [...] |
2005-02-06 04:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT206 | MUSCAT SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: RESPONSE TO PRESIDENTIAL [...] Arabic and English language print media in Oman gave extensive coverage to President Bush's State Of The Union Address, particularly the sections of the speech relating to Iraq and the Middle East Peace Process. Most coverage focused on his warnings to Iran and Syria. Many articles were critic [...] |
2005-02-07 05:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT209 | CAMEL RACING, FROM TOP DOWN TO BOTTOM UP [...] (SBU/NF) During a February 3 camel race organized by prominent Omanis and Emiratis, the Ambassador heard directly from the senior royal family member heading Oman's Camel Federation on why abuses of camel jockeys that reportedly take place in the UAE are absent in Oman. The official cited tha [...] |
2005-02-08 04:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM SCUL PGOV ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT210 | COMMERCE U/S ON FTA, TRADE ISSUES (C-NE4-01168) [...] (SBU) In a February 5 introductory call by the Ambassador, new Ministry of Commerce and Industry Under Secretary Ahmed al-Dheeb offered an optimistic outlook on impending U.S.-Omani Free Trade Agreement talks. Noting that labor issues under the FTA will require some work, he likewise laid dow [...] |
2005-02-08 04:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EINV ECON KIPR TBIO PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT212 | CHANCE FOR PEACE AND A GENERAL'S CALLOUS COMMENTS [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on February 7 under the title, "Abu Mazen's Historic Opportunity": "There is a `historic opportunity' to resolve the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas created this opportunity when he succeeded [...] |
2005-02-08 09:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT227 | OMAN ONLINE: PRAISE FOR HM, CRITICISM FOR THE FESTIVAL [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-02-09 11:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT229 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/09/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee February 9 to reassess the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend, as well as to discuss security for upcoming events. The Committee concluded that there has been no change in the local secur [...] |
2005-02-09 12:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT231 | FOREIGN MINISTRY CHIMES IN ON RECENT ARRESTS [...] (SBU/NF) As a string of security detentions continues to roil the political waters in Oman, the Foreign Ministry sent a note on February 5 to select foreign embassies offering clarification of the government's action. The MFA letter was adamant in denying any violent or terroristic intentions [...] |
2005-02-09 13:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PHUM PGOV PINS SCUL ASEC KVPR MU |
| 05MUSCAT232 | OMAN NOT READY TO COMMIT TO PSI [...] (S) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Embassy by note verbale February 9 that while Oman seeks to comply with international laws, agreements and norms, "the government of the Sultanate welcomes the idea of the Proliferation Security Initiative without joining it or being committed t [...] |
2005-02-09 13:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP EWWT MU |
| 05MUSCAT233 | OMAN: WTO NON-AGRICULTURAL MARKET ACCESS NEGOTIATING FRAMEWORK OUTREACH ON SECTORAL INITIATIVES [...] No summary [...] |
2005-02-09 13:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | MU NOTAG |
| 05MUSCAT241 | COUNTER-TERRORISM ACTION GROUP (CTAG) MEETING [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Muscat Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) met on February 2 to outline, in preparation for the April 29 CTAG meeting in London, key Omani counter-terrorism(CT) needs, and to share details of completed and planned CT assistance from G8 states. The CTAG agreed on a list of [...] |
2005-02-13 12:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER ASEC PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT242 | EB SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MERMOUD TALKS BUSINESS [...] (SBU) Summary: During recent meetings with senior State Department official Frank Mermoud, Omani government officials and members of the local and American business communities provided valuable insights into the upcoming free trade agreement (FTA) talks and the issues facing American companie [...] |
2005-02-13 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ETRD KTDB EINV CVIS ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT243 | OMAN OFFICIAL ON PRIVATIZATION, FTA HOPES [...] (SBU) In a meeting on February 1, National Economy Under Secretary Abdul Malik al-Hinai outlined the Omani SIPDIS government's privatization strategy for a visiting USG official in the power, water, telecommunications and transport sectors. He predicted the sale of 30 percent of state-owne [...] |
2005-02-13 13:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KPRV EIND ETRD ECPS KTEX PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT244 | IRI FINALLY BREAKS DOWN THE DOOR TO OMANI [...] (SBU) The International Republican Institute finally succeeded this month in carrying out a training program for elected Omani parliamentarians that the Majlis' President had vowed for five years would never be permitted. Twelve deputies and a senior staffer participated in a 3-day workshop o [...] |
2005-02-13 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KMPI PREL EAID MU |
| 05MUSCAT25 | OMAN DELIVERS TSUNAMI AID TO SRI LANKA [...] As reported in reftel B, the government of Oman has offered to facilitate the delivery of private contributions to tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. On January 4, the first Omani flights carrying relief supplies left the Sultanate for Colombo. The flights, with more to follow in t [...] |
2005-01-05 09:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR EAID PGOV PREL CE MU |
| 05MUSCAT252 | SCENESETTER: YOUR VISIT TO OMAN [...] (U) Greetings and welcome from Team Muscat. We are confident you will gain a great deal from your participation in the upcoming MEAS IV Conference, and are proud that the Sultanate of Oman is hosting this year's event with excellent assistance and cooperation from CENTAF. In addition to the [...] |
2005-02-14 08:00:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PREL PGOV OTRA MU |
| 05MUSCAT257 | OMAN GOES PUBLIC WITH FTA PLANS [...] This is an action request for USTR. Please see para 5. --------------------------------------------- ---- Commerce Minister Publicly Touts FTA Negotiations --------------------------------------------- ---- 2. On February 13, in an annual address to celebrate the achievements of Oman i [...] |
2005-02-16 03:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KPRV EIND ETRD PREL OPRC KPAO MU |
| 05MUSCAT258 | OMAN CONDEMNS HARIRI ASSASSINATION [...] (SBU) The Foreign Ministry quickly issued a statement on February 14 that condemned the murder of former Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri, mourned his loss and expressed confidence that the crime would not undermine Lebanon's stability. MFA contacts were loath to point fingers of blame, but expressed [...] |
2005-02-16 03:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE MU |
| 05MUSCAT26 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/05/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 5 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed [...] |
2005-01-05 09:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT27 | PDO SIGNS DEAL, BUT CAN IT DELIVER? [...] (C) Summary: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) signed a 40-year extension to its concession agreement with the Omani government on December 19. The agreement was touted in the local press as symbolic of Oman's commitment to PDO as well as indicative of the Sultanate's capability to continue oil [...] |
2005-01-05 09:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PGOV MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT271 | OPPORTUNITY FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, THE SECRETARY'S [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on February 12 entitled, "The Necessity of Ending Confrontation": "Israel and Palestine have agreed -- yet again -- to end violent confrontations between their respective citizens. Similar commitments to peace have been swept a [...] |
2005-02-16 07:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT272 | OMAN - CARTAGENA PROTOCOL IMPLEMENTATION STATUS UPDATE [...] During a January meeting with the U.S. Agricultural Trade Officer, Oman's Director General (DG) of Specifications and Measurements at the Ministry of Commerce & Industry reconfirmed that Oman remains in the process of developing bio-safety standards to comply with its Cartagena Protocol obligat [...] |
2005-02-16 07:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV ETRD EAGR EAID TBIO MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT279 | PSI: TECHNICAL-LEVEL COOPERATION ON TRACK [...] (S) A senior MFA official reiterated Oman's cooperation across the range of proliferation and border security activities, including a PSI-related air interdiction exercise later this month. He voiced the MFA's firm support for PSI, and his confidence that Oman's military and police were simil [...] |
2005-02-16 12:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP EWWT MASS MU |
| 05MUSCAT28 | OMAN ONLINE: CHATROOM CREDIBILITY, CLASS CHOICES [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2005-01-05 10:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT280 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/16/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee February 16 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the E [...] |
2005-02-16 13:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER KHLS KVPR CASC MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT281 | OMAN ONLINE: CALL TO BOYCOTT US GOODS AND ANOTHER [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-02-16 13:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT293 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/20/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee February 20 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EA [...] |
2005-02-21 11:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT294 | IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, LEBANON, AND IRAQI STREET NAMES [...] On February 20, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial entitled, "Distribution of Roles": "In recent statements, the American administration denied the accusation that they are going to use military force against Iran in an effort to stop what they term `military nuc [...] |
2005-02-21 12:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT297 | RESPONSE TO SECURITY ENVIRONMENT PROFILE [...] (SBU) DEMONSTRATIONS: A. (SBU) Yes, there are ethnic and religious communities in Oman that are capable of carrying out significant anti-American demonstrations. However, as noted below, the Omani government exercises significant control over all polities in the country. B. (SBU) N [...] |
2005-02-22 02:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC PTER MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT298 | BECHTEL SNAGS BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IN OMAN [...] (SBU) Summary: Bechtel's Regional Manager has informed the Ambassador that Bechtel won the construction contract for a large aluminum smelter in the city of Sohar. This $1.3 billion project, scheduled to be completed by 2008, will eventually employ around 2000 people and marks another milesto [...] |
2005-02-22 02:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP EINV EIND EMIN ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT306 | TELECOMS MOVEMENT IN OMAN [...] In the ref B digital video conference between USTR and Omani government telecommunications officials, Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (TRA) pledged that the award of an operating license to a competing mobile phone operator was "imminent." On February 19, Sultan Qaboos promulgated [...] |
2005-02-23 03:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS KPRV ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT313 | 2005 ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT: OMAN [...] (SBU) The following responses are keyed to relevant sections of reftel paras 18-21. ----------------- PARA 18: OVERVIEW ----------------- A. Oman is not a country of origin, transit, or destination for internationally trafficked men, women or children. ------------------- PARA 19: [...] |
2005-02-23 11:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT314 | RESPONSE TO ANNUAL CRIME EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE [...] (SBU) The following responses, which reflect Emergency Action Committee consensus, are keyed to paragraph 6 of the Annual Crime Evaluation Questionnaire (reftel): --------------------------------------------- I. Crime Mobility (Into Emboff Neighborhoods) ---------------------------------- [...] |
2005-02-23 11:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT317 | PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR PRAISES PRESIDENT'S REMARKS [...] No summary [...] |
2005-02-25 19:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OPRC KWBG KPAL IS MU |
| 05MUSCAT321 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/23/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee February 23 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-02-26 11:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT322 | OMAN SEEKS SUPPORT FOR JUDGE CANDIDATE TO LAW OF [...] This is an action request for OES/OA - please see para 3. 2. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a circular to resident diplomatic missions on February 16 requesting support for its candidate to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The salient portions of the [...] |
2005-02-26 13:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHSA TPHY PREL PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT323 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/26/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee February 26 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-02-27 02:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT328 | OMAN ONLINE: NO INTERMINGLING OF GIRLS AND BOYS; [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-02-27 11:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT33 | OMAN MFA ON CWC HOST COUNTRY AGREEMENT DRAFT [...] (U) This is an action request for AC/CB. See para 8. ------- Summary ------- 2. (C/NF) Oman responded to the U.S. draft CWC Host Country Agreement (HCA) with a number of proposed amendments. The Foreign Ministry asks that the HCA be converted to letter format, that it delete the term [...] |
2005-01-05 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PARM MARR MASS MOPS MU |
| 05MUSCAT330 | PSI: FM CLARIFIES OMAN'S VIEWS [...] (S) In a February 27 telcon on various subjects, the Ambassador sought clarification from Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi on the Omani government's attitude toward the Proliferation Security Initiative following its communication of February 9 (reftels). 2. (S) The [...] |
2005-02-27 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP EWWT MASS MU |
| 05MUSCAT331 | SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE [...] (C) The Secretary's oral message was delivered to the Foreign Ministry February 27, encouraging Oman's participation in the March 1 gathering in London, its support for the Palestinian Authority, and the reopening of trade offices in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Minister Responsibl [...] |
2005-02-27 12:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID KPAL KWBG ECON EFIN PREL MU XF |
| 05MUSCAT34 | IAEA COMPREHENSIVE SAFEGUARDS STATUS [...] (SBU) Following the Ambassador's December 27 discussion with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi to encourage Oman's bringing into force its IAEA safeguards agreement and approving the Additional Protocol (ref A), A/DCM also raised the matter in a January 5 meeting on othe [...] |
2005-01-05 14:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP PARM TRGY PREL AORC OPDC XF MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT35 | STATUS OF COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS [...] (C) Following the Ambassador's December 27 conversation with the Foreign Minister (ref A), A/DCM reiterated the importance of Oman's ratifying the final two of twelve international counterterrorism conventions (ref B) in a January 5 meeting with MFA International Organizations Department Chief [...] |
2005-01-05 15:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT355 | FIRST ANNIVERSARY FOR AMERICAN CORNERS IN OMAN [...] NEA's first American Corner, hosted by Muscat's Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS), recently celebrated its first anniversary. The Ambassador addressed students and faculty of MCBS on the role of the Corner in providing accurate and authoritative information about the United States [...] |
2005-03-02 08:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OIIP SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT361 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/02/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 2 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Emb [...] |
2005-03-02 09:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT364 | OMAN PRESSURES SARG ON LEBANON WITHDRAWAL [...] (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi convoked the Ambassador on February 28, just prior to departing for the March 1 London Conference on Palestine, to recount the steps he had taken to encourage Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. He said that Egypt had sought his help to [...] |
2005-03-02 09:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY LE EG MU |
| 05MUSCAT365 | INVITING WOMEN LEADERS TO FORUM ON POLITICAL [...] (SBU) The Sultan's Foreign Policy Advisor Dr. Omar al-Zawawi and Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi both assured the Ambassador of the delivery and acceptance of the invitations to Higher Education Minister Dr. Rawya al-Busaidi and oil company executive Ms. Asillah al-Har [...] |
2005-03-02 09:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KWMN PHUM PGOV KMPI PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT367 | OMAN: FTA INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS [...] (SBU) Embassy Muscat is pleased to provide additional information regarding environmental matters in Oman to assist USG negotiators for the upcoming free trade agreement talks. The following responses are keyed to questions (a - t) in paragraph 5 of reftel. a. The Law on Conservation of The [...] |
2005-03-02 10:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON SENV MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT368 | OMAN ONLINE: U.S. BEHIND ARRESTS; HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-02 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT369 | OMANI INFLUENCES GNASSINGBE ON TOGO DEMOCRACY [...] (C) Salim bin Nasser al-Ismaili (protect), appointed by the Sultan in 1996 to head the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED), revealed to the Ambassador in a March 1 meeting his personal intercession with self-proclaimed Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe to end h [...] |
2005-03-03 13:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PINR TO MU |
| 05MUSCAT375 | CELEBRATING CREATIVITY AT MUSCAT FESTIVAL [...] Embassy Muscat recently co-sponsored a month-long "Children's Art Workshop" at the Muscat Festival, attracting over 4,200 children and adults whose enthusiasm for this unique program augurs well for it becoming a permanent feature of the annual festival. Forging new ties with Muscat Municipa [...] |
2005-03-05 09:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KDEM PREL SOCI SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT377 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/05/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee March 5 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy [...] |
2005-03-05 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT398 | AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS, AN ARAB SUMMIT AND THE ISRAELI- [...] On March 5, the Privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial by Atif Abul Jawad, an Egyptian journalist entitled "The Sad Joke": "The 2004 Human Rights Report published by the U.S. Department of State is an expos on the status of human rights world wide. However, one of the u [...] |
2005-03-08 05:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT40 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/08/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 8 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agree [...] |
2005-01-08 13:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT400 | RECONSTRUCTION DISBURSEMENTS TO IRAQ [...] (SBU) On March 6, the Ambassador called on Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr bin Hamed al-Busaidi to deliver reftel demarche seeking a status report on Oman's pledge to Iraq's reconstruction. Sayyid Badr recalled that Oman had initially pledged USD 3 million at the 2003 Madrid Conf [...] |
2005-03-08 06:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT402 | FEMALE CIRCUMCISION IN OMAN [...] According to a survey conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH), almost 80 percent of young Omani males and females believe that female circumcision (aka female genital mutilation, or FGM) is "nec [...] |
2005-03-08 06:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN SOCI PHUM MU |
| 05MUSCAT406 | WMD AWARENESS COURSE FEEDBACK [...] The Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program sponsored a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness workshop held in Muscat from February 26 to March  [...] |
2005-03-08 06:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KSTC ETTC PARM PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT413 | CHILD MARRIAGE: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2005-03-09 10:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KWMN ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT427 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/09/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 9 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed [...] |
2005-03-09 12:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT428 | OMAN ONLINE: THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT AND THE FTA [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-10 10:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT442 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/12/05 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 12 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agree [...] |
2005-03-14 12:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT444 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: FULL OF PRAISE FOR FTA [...] On March 12, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled "Welcoming the FTA Negotiations": "Concluding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Sultanate of Oman and the United States will eventually reduce the competitive pressure on Omani merchants to [...] |
2005-03-14 12:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT450 | MEDIA REACTION: AMERICAN POLICY YESTERDAY AND TODAY, [...] On March 13, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial by Sa'ud al-Ansi, former Chief of the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, entitled "America, The Past And The Present" that reads as follows: "U.S. policy toward the Arab World is really a numb [...] |
2005-03-15 10:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT456 | MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE [...] (C) With the minister out of the country, the Ambassador spoke on March 15 with Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr bin Hamed al-Busaidi to convey the USG concerns per ref A. Regarding Syria/Lebanon, Sayyid Badr reiterated Oman's support of the USG position, as expressed by Minister [...] |
2005-03-15 12:00:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY LE IS IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT466 | OMAN ONLINE: FEMALE PRAYER LEADER, ACTIVE EMBASSY GRIST [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-16 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT467 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/16/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 16 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Em [...] |
2005-03-16 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT470 | NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR: KEIJI OMORI [...] (C) Japan's newly arrived ambassador-designate to Oman, Keiji Omori, paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador on March 14. Omori's background is in military intelligence. Most recently serving as Director General of the Defense Facilities Administration Agency of the Japanese Defense Agency, [...] |
2005-03-18 02:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL JA MU |
| 05MUSCAT471 | MUSCAT BOOK FAIR: SALES DOWN, LESSONS LEARNED [...] Summary: Embassy Muscat exhibited 85 American titles at the Muscat International Book Fair. We sold a total of 120 Arabic-language books, down from previous years. We plan to substantially increase the number of English titles we offer next year. End summary. --------------------------- [...] |
2005-03-19 02:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SCUL OIIP TSPL MU |
| 05MUSCAT476 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/19/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee March 19 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embass [...] |
2005-03-20 11:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT479 | OMAN CONDEMNS QATAR TERROR ATTACK [...] (U) The March 19 VBIED attack on a theater in Doha provoked swift condemnation by the Omani government. A Foreign Ministry statement (most likely penned by Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi) released on March 20 SIPDIS pledged the Sultanate's support for Qatar's security and its prote [...] |
2005-03-22 12:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PREL OPRC XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT480 | OMAN "SHELL"-SHOCKED BY GAS SHORTFALL, TURNS TO [...] (C) Summary: Recent conversations with senior technical advisors at the Ministry of Oil and Gas have revealed strong evidence that Oman's natural gas reserves are significantly smaller than previously reported. Oman is signing agreements to import large quantities of gas from Iran in order to [...] |
2005-03-22 12:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EIND MU IR |
| 05MUSCAT489 | OMAN ONLINE: DOHA BOMBING AND VERDICT IN ATTEMPTED [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-23 10:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT490 | MEDIA REACTION: SHARON AND PALESTINIAN COMMITMENTS, [...] On March 19, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled, "Sharon's Dilemma is Growing": "The Palestinian commitment to stop attacks against Israel -- provided Israel stops its hostile actions against the Palestinians -- has put real pressure on Sh [...] |
2005-03-23 12:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT492 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/22/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee March 22 to review the Embassy's security posture following the terrorist bombing in Qatar. Members noted no significant changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed [...] |
2005-03-23 13:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT495 | SPECIAL OMAN ONLINE: A/USTR NOVELLI DEMYSTIFIES FTA [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-26 07:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT506 | SALALAH: PORT EXPANDS, FREE ZONE PENDING [...] (U) This cable contains business proprietary information - please protect. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) In a call on the Ambassador, former Salalah Port Services Co. CEO Jack Helton and his successor Tiemen Meester (please protect both) privately questioned the government's commitm [...] |
2005-03-27 11:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EWWT ETRD ELAB EINV MU |
| 05MUSCAT522 | MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT, ISRAELI MACHINATIONS, AND [...] On March 25, the privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial entitled "The Positive Algerian Summit": "Despite the absence of public enthusiasm for the Arab summit, its outcome was positive. The summit made any peace initiative contingent upon Israel's withdrawal from Arab t [...] |
2005-03-30 03:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT532 | OMAN ONLINE: DEFENDING ARRESTEES, TRUSTING THE [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "Al-Sablah" and "Al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-03-30 10:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT533 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 03/30/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) March 30 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC [...] |
2005-03-30 12:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT536 | EDUCATION FAIR PROMOTES STUDY IN U.S. [...] Summary: Embassy Muscat and U.S. Educational Group organized an educational fair to correct misperceptions about pursuing higher education in the United States and to inform Omani students of the high quality undergraduate and graduate programs that U.S. universities provide. Fourteen U.S. u [...] |
2005-04-02 05:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SCUL KPAO PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT541 | OMANIZATION: JOB CREATION, NOT REPLACEMENT [...] (SBU) During labor consultations with Deputy Under Secretary for Labor Arnold Levine, the Ministry of Manpower SIPDIS (MOM) reaffirmed its position that Omanization will not come at the expense of performance and productivity. In clarifying the practical aspects of Omanization, MOM officia [...] |
2005-04-03 04:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ELAB PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT545 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/02/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 2 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the E [...] |
2005-04-03 12:00:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT547 | GEN ABIZAID'S 3/29 MEETING WITH SULTAN QABOOS [...] (C) In a March 29 visit by USCENTCOM CDR Gen Abizaid, Sultan Qaboos credited Saudi Arabia for tactical successes against terrorism but worried whether the Al Saud yet have a longer term strategy. He sees Iraq still at a crossroads, expressing concern over the country's territorial integrity, [...] |
2005-04-04 08:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PINS PINR PGOV KDEM ETRD MARR XF IR IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT552 | SULTAN'S SECURITY CHIEF ON ARRESTS OF IBADHI [...] (C) The Minister of the Royal Office and one of the most powerful men in the country, General Ali bin Majid al-Ma'amari told the Ambassador that forty people have been arrested for conspiring to overthrow the government in order to resurrect an Ibadhi religious state in the interior. The Mini [...] |
2005-04-04 13:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PGOV SOCI KISL PHUM KJUS PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT56 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: TSUNAMI, PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on January 6 entitled "Media Compassion And The Tsunami Crisis": "We should note the outstanding coverage that the Western media gave to the tsunami crisis. It was more than just a headline. They offered 24-hour coverage of the [...] |
2005-01-10 11:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT560 | MEDIA REACTION: AMERICAN ATTEMPTS TO DIVIDE ARABS, LOSS [...] On April 2, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled "The Third Sorrow": "We have healed from our first wound which was Iraq, we are still smarting from the situation in Darfur, but now it seems a third wound is being inflicted on us Arabs as a collective. This [...] |
2005-04-06 06:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT561 | AMERICAN CORNERS CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH [...] Embassy Muscat facilitated videoconferences (DVCs) on African-American literature at two American Corners to commemorate Black History Month. Dr. Dan T. Carter, a professor at the University of South Carolina, spoke on the "U.S. Civil Rights Movement," and poet and novelist Natasha Tretheway [...] |
2005-04-06 07:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KIRC OIIP SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT562 | DVC - ELECTIONS KEY TO POSITIVE CHANGE IN IRAQ [...] Embassy Muscat held a digital videoconference with Dr. Phebe Marr, Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, on the impact of the Iraqi elections on the future of Iraq. Dr. Marr acknowledgopined that the elections were flawed and that sectarian issues played a prominent role in [...] |
2005-04-06 08:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KIRC OIIP SCUL IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT565 | CENTCOM MASTER PLAN FOR DEFENSE POSTURE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-04-06 09:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | MARR PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT567 | OMAN ONLINE: SEEKING JOBS AND DEFENDING ARRESTEES [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-04-06 13:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC OIIP SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT568 | BUILDING KNOWLEDGE AND NETWORKS IN AMERICA AND [...] The Omani participants in the 2004 MEPI-funded "Business Internship Program (BIP) for Young Middle Eastern Women" were guests of honor at a recent dinner celebrating International Women's Day. Three of the four BIP participants shared the highlights of the program with the other guests, inclu [...] |
2005-04-06 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KDEM KWMN MU |
| 05MUSCAT569 | OMAN SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE CSI FOR PORTS SALALAH, [...] (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Embassy by note verbale April 2 of the Sultanate's formal request to initiate negotiations on designating the ports of Salalah, Sultan Qaboos (Muscat), and Sohar as participants in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) program by the end of 2 [...] |
2005-04-06 15:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC KSTC PARM PREL ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT573 | GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM ASSESSMENT: OMAN [...] (C) Oman is a successful example of cooperation in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Military cooperation is perhaps the brightest area of achievement owing to Oman's benefit from the Foreign Military Finance (FMF) program, which is beginning to fill gaping holes in its maritime and border [...] |
2005-04-06 15:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER MU |
| 05MUSCAT576 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/06/2005 [...] (S/NF) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 6 to discuss recent intelligence reporting related to the May 2004 arrest of al-Qaida-linked Omani nationals (ref A), as well as to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local [...] |
2005-04-07 04:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT581 | QABOOS PUBLICLY HAILS NEW IRAQI PRESIDENT [...] (U) Sultan Qaboos sent a congratulatory cable of greetings on April 8 to Jalal Talabani on the occasion of his election as president of Iraq, "wishing him good health and success in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Iraq for stability, progress and prosperity," according to the Oman [...] |
2005-04-09 14:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT582 | BIO: SAYYID BADR AL-BUSAIDI, MFA UNDER SECRETARY [...] (U) Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Humud al-Busaidi Under Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (since 2000) Rank: Ambassador ------------- Personal Data ------------- 2. (U) Born: May 30, 1960; Muscat, Oman. Married, two daughters. Education: Master of Letters (MLitt) (Political Philosoph [...] |
2005-04-09 14:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT584 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/09/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 9 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agree [...] |
2005-04-10 02:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT59 | ADDITIONAL TSUNAMI AID [...] As reported in ref B, the government of Oman has offered to facilitate the delivery of private contributions to tsunami victims in the Indian Ocean region. Since an initial SIPDIS shipment of 41 tons of aid, the government of Oman has committed to shipping over 300 tons of relief supplies. [...] |
2005-01-11 08:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID PGOV PREL AEMR CE ID MU |
| 05MUSCAT591 | OMAN SURVEY BY TIP ACTIVIST COMES UP EMPTY [...] (SBU) Regional human rights and anti-trafficking activist Ansar Burney made a short-notice visit to Oman April 8-9 in a quest to locate suspected trafficked Pakistani child camel jockeys he believes are missing from camps in the UAE. In his first visit with Embassy personnel, Burney accompanie [...] |
2005-04-11 03:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ELAB ETRD KOCI SOCI PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT597 | MEDIA REACTION: SETTLEMENT EXPANSION IN PALESTINE, HATE [...] On April 7, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled, "Sharon's Projects to Where?" "Despite the Palestinian leadership's insistence that Sharon withdraw from the Gaza strip, it appears that he will once again ignore their requests and go against his previously c [...] |
2005-04-12 02:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT599 | GEN ABIZAID'S MEETINGS WITH OMANI FOREIGN, DEFENSE [...] (C) Senior Omani foreign affairs and defense officials shared views with CENTCOM CDR Gen Abizaid on the brewing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with the Omanis consistently advocating direct dialogue as a means to ease pressures and forestall an Iranian nuclear program. The Omanis shared [...] |
2005-04-12 02:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS MARR PTER SMIG MNUC XF XD MU |
| 05MUSCAT6 | SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY'S TRANSIT OF OMAN [...] (C) Team Muscat was delighted to learn of your transit of Oman en route to the tsunami-stricken Asia region. In the event your brief refueling stop in Muscat offers the opportunity for an airport meeting with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi, we offer the following ba [...] |
2005-01-02 10:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT607 | OMAN SETS MINIMUM CAMEL RACING AGE AT 14 [...] (U) In an unexpected turn of events April 11, the Chairman of the Oman Equestrian and Camel Association issued a decision mandating a minimum age of 14 years for camel racing jockeys. His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq al-Said, head of Oman's camel racing association and first cousin of Sulta [...] |
2005-04-12 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ETRD ELAB PREL KOCI SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT615 | OMAN FM SPEAKS OUT ON IRAQ, PALESTINE, REFORM [...] (C) Despite not having made a public statement of support following the January 30 parliamentary elections in Iraq, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi praised democratic developments in Iraq in an April 12 press interview in Qatar. Speaking on the margins of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, t [...] |
2005-04-13 10:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OPDC KISL KPAL IZ XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT616 | UNICEF ASSISTS UAE ON CAMEL RACING ISSUE [...] (SBU) The United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) regional office in Muscat has recently been working with the United Arab Emirates in developing comprehensive new legislation that will cover the monitoring and implementation of the announced ban on the use of child camel jockeys [...] |
2005-04-13 10:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM SOCI PREL ELAB MU |
| 05MUSCAT618 | OMAN ONLINE: TOURISM IN OMAN AND SECRECY IN TRIAL OF [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-04-13 13:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KPAO SCUL SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT619 | OMAN: FOLLOW UP ON LIGHTER BAN DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2005-04-13 13:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR PTER MU |
| 05MUSCAT620 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/13/2005 [...] (SBU) The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 13 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy' [...] |
2005-04-15 04:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT631 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/16/2005 [...] (SBU) The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 16 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy [...] |
2005-04-17 04:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT642 | BIOGRAPHY: HUNAINA BINT SULTAN BIN AHMED [...] (U) Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmed al-Mughairy, OCIPED Representative in New York Born: October 13, 1948, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania ------------------------ Current Responsibilities ------------------------ 2. (SBU) While she considers herself "retired" per a recent visa application, Hunai [...] |
2005-04-18 13:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT643 | MEDIA REACTION: THE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT, A NEW ROAD [...] On April 15, government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled, "The Iraqi Government's Huge Task": "The soon to be announced Iraqi government has a huge mission before it. It must bring security and stability to Iraq, as well as revive the Iraqi soul and strengthen the sens [...] |
2005-04-19 02:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT669 | LABOR CONCERNS LOOM LARGE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR [...] (SBU) In a regional visit to Salalah April 15-17, PolOff met with officials at Salalah Port Services (SPS) and Dhofar Power Company (DPC) to discuss issues related to the labor chapter of the expected U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, as well as customs, training, and recruitment and retention c [...] |
2005-04-24 12:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ELAB EWWT KMPI EINV PREL ECON MU |
| 05MUSCAT67 | OMAN ONLINE: KUWAITI PARLIAMENT VS. OMANI MAJLIS AL- [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat room "Sablat al-Arab" -- or simply "Al-Sablah" -- is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totall [...] |
2005-01-13 07:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PGOV SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT670 | EXBS: PORT SALALAH RIPE TARGET FOR PROGRAMMING [...] (C) With over 30,000 containers on site at any given time and scant screening capabilities, Port Salalah could conceivably be a vulnerable spot in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) import/export or transshipment. Including the port in the Container Security Initiative and expanding our EXBS p [...] |
2005-04-24 12:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EWWT PARM ETRD PREL PTER ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT672 | URGENT: PSI: U.S. ASSISTANCE IN STOPPING GERMAN [...] (S) German Ambassador Hartmut Blankenstein confirmed to us mid-day on April 24 that he had not yet approached the Omani government with a demarche to interdict the crane shipment for Iran (ref A). As reported ref B, the instructions from Berlin were transmitted after close of business on April [...] |
2005-04-24 14:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT674 | OMAN: TELECOMS UPDATE [...] (U) Summary: A series of local press reports in mid- April outlined three noteworthy developments in Oman's telecommunications sector. The launching of the Falcon submarine cable project will transform Oman into a regional hub for broadband and advanced telecom services. The project will co [...] |
2005-04-25 05:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECPS ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT675 | AFRICAN-AMERICAN INGENUITY IMPRESSES OMANIS [...] Embassy Muscat brought a New York-based historical exhibition entitled "Black Inventions: Made in the USA," to Oman for its international debut, first in Salalah and then in Muscat. The collection of original artifacts and replicas of items invented by African-Americans reminded audiences of [...] |
2005-04-25 05:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT676 | OMAN ONLINE: ARRESTEE TRIAL AND AL-HURRAH INTERVIEW WITH [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-04-25 06:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC OIIP SOCI SCUL MU |
| 05MUSCAT679 | U.S.-CHINA SECURITY DIALOGUE: MEETING WITH DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF LTGEN MA XIAOTIAN, JUNE 5, 2008 [...] No summary [...] |
2005-04-25 10:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT68 | 2005 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT FOR OMAN [...] Following is the text of the 2005 Investment Climate Statement for the Sultanate of Oman. 2. ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Oman's economy is based primarily on petroleum, which accounted for about 66.9 percent of government revenue by October of FY 2004. Oman's proven recoverable oil reserves are e [...] |
2005-01-13 10:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV ECON KTDB MU |
| 05MUSCAT682 | WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION PLEADS FOR MEPI PROGRAMS [...] (SBU) The provincial head of an Omani Women's Association chapter in Salalah is hungry for greater MEPI engagement that might better train the women of that region for jobs in a modern, diverse environment. Highlighting the cultural differences between Dhofari women and those in Muscat, she i [...] |
2005-04-25 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI KMPI KWMN SCUL PGOV ELAB MU MEPI |
| 05MUSCAT683 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/24/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 24 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed th [...] |
2005-04-26 02:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT684 | UNPRECEDENTED TRANSPARENCY IN NATIONAL SECURITY [...] (C) Recent arrests of 30-40 Omanis charged with seeking to overthrow the Sultan and impose Ibadhi religious rule under an Imam have been the focus of public and press attention in Oman since January. But the trial itself, underway since April 18, has surprised the public by its unprecedented [...] |
2005-04-26 02:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS KJUS PHUM PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT687 | PSI: GERMAN CRANE SHIPMENT - NO ACTION EXPECTED IN [...] (S) Begin Summary: The German Ambassador as of COB April 26 has received no instruction from Berlin to take any action with the Omani government to halt a questionable crane shipment to Iran, necessitating the postponing of our scheduled meeting with the Foreign Minister. He indicated that Berlin m [...] |
2005-04-26 11:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL IR GM MU NO |
| 05MUSCAT690 | MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI DUPLICITY AND AMERICAN DEMAND [...] On April 21, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled, "A Strange Position": "The duplicity of the American position toward Israel hurts the prospects of peace in the region. While it is true that America has called for Israel to stop building new settlements, i [...] |
2005-04-27 04:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT696 | UPDATE: PSI - GERMAN CRANE SHIPMENT [...] (S) As forecast in ref A, the German Ambassador in Muscat received no instructions from Berlin overnight nor any during the working day on April 27 regarding the German crane shipment bound for Iran (ref C). The German Embassy duty officer informed Pol Chief that they will monitor communicati [...] |
2005-04-27 13:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT697 | SPECIAL OMAN ONLINE: A/S HARTY RESPONDS TO AL-SABLAH [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-04-27 13:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OEXC OIIP SOCI PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT698 | OMAN ONLINE: DEBATING THE TRIAL [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-04-27 13:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT699 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/27/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 27 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that t [...] |
2005-04-30 02:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT70 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/12/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 12 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EA [...] |
2005-01-13 16:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT711 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/30/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) April 30 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-02 02:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT715 | OMANI IPR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS: LURCHING FORWARD [...] (U) Summary: The Omani government stepped up its IPR enforcement efforts in April with the confiscation of tens of thousands of pirated DVDs and CDs in one of Muscat's commercial districts. This crackdown comes as part of an ongoing effort to curb piracy in the Sultanate, according to Ministr [...] |
2005-05-02 10:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KIPR PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT716 | PLOTTERS SENTENCED, SMALL PROTEST HELD [...] (C) The State Security Court handed down sentences ranging from 10-20 years for most of the 31 defendants tried on charges of participating in an illegal organization and plotting to overthrow the government. Although no judicial appeal process is available to the defendants, they can appeal [...] |
2005-05-02 11:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM KISL PINS ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT717 | MEDIA REACTION: PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SECURING THE [...] On April 26, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled "Peace in the Middle East": "As a powerful country, the United States has a moral and legal responsibility to seek the best possible solutions for regional political problems and pressures. When people are su [...] |
2005-05-03 02:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT741 | SECOND DEMONSTRATION LEADS TO ARRESTS [...] (SBU) A May 3 protest march that turned into a sit-in at a mosque was allegedly forcibly dispersed by police, reportedly leading to numerous arrests. First-hand accounts cite the number of protesters between 200-500, while other unconfirmed sources claim the numbers were closer to a thousand o [...] |
2005-05-04 13:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV SOCI PHUM PINS ASEC MU |
| 05MUSCAT743 | OMAN ONLINE: VERDICTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-05-04 15:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT744 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/04/2005 [...] (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 4 to discuss the local security situation and review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment sinc [...] |
2005-05-04 15:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT752 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/07/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 7 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-09 03:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT761 | OMAN RATIFIES WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION [...] (SBU) A royal decree May 7 ratified Oman's joining the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, although reportedly with some reservations. The step came on the eve of Oman's participation in the May 7-10 NAM Ministerial on the Advancement of Women taking place in Mal [...] |
2005-05-11 11:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KWMN MU |
| 05MUSCAT763 | "NO OBSTACLES" TO MEPI PARTNERSHIP [...] (U) Alina Romanowski, Director of the Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), visited Oman May 3-4 to meet with top officials in the Ministries of Social Development, Higher Education, Education, and Foreign Affairs regarding MEPI programming. The positive tone of each meeting [...] |
2005-05-11 13:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KMPI KPAO SCUL SENV MU MEPI |
| 05MUSCAT764 | OMAN ONLINE: SHINAS SHOOTING, EQUALITY, AND ARRESTS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-05-11 13:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT765 | ENCOURAGING SUPPORT FOR THE IRAQ TRANSITIONAL [...] (U) This is an action request for IIP, NEA/PPD - see para 6. 2. (SBU) Summary: Omani Foreign Minister Bin Alawi offered in a May 11 meeting with the Ambassador to give an interview in Muscat to the Al Hurra channel to voice public support for the new Iraqi Transitional Government. He expr [...] |
2005-05-11 13:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OPRC PREL OIIP IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT766 | OMAN APPOINTS -- NOT ELECTS -- ILO DELEGATION [...] In an unexpected turn of events on May 4, the Minister of Manpower retreated from promised committee-wide elections and instead personally appointed a National Committee to represent Omani labor interests at the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conference in June. Disappointed, workers [...] |
2005-05-11 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD KMPI PREL ECON PHUM PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT767 | MEDIA REACTION: ABU GHRAIB SENTENCES, REGIONAL [...] On May 7, the government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial entitled, "Rewards for the Abu Ghraib Scandals": "The trials of the American military officers involved in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal passed almost unnoticed by the Arabs, as if nothing had ever happened. The paltry p [...] |
2005-05-14 02:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT768 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/11/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 11 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-14 02:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT770 | OMAN ONLINE: SHINAS SHOOTING, EQUALITY, AND ARRESTS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-05-14 07:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT771 | PROPOSED VISIT OF OMANI FM [...] (U) This is an action request for NEA - please see para 4. 2. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi convoked the Ambassador on May 11 to express his interest in visiting Washington DC in early July if meetings with appropriate USG interlocutors could be arranged. Citi [...] |
2005-05-14 08:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OVIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT777 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ALLEGATIONS OF QUKRAN [...] The three major Arabic-language dailies in Oman - the government-owned "Oman" and the privately-owned "Al Watan" and "al-Shabiba" - all carried reports of alleged Quran desecration by U.S. military interrogators at Guantanamo Bay. Front-page coverage of the allegations appeared in the Thursday [...] |
2005-05-15 02:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PREL KMDR SOCI OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT778 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/14/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) May 14 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that th [...] |
2005-05-15 02:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT792 | COUNTRY DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN [...] (C) Oman stands ahead of many Arab states on broad issues of democratic reform. Its constitution was promulgated in 1996 and enshrines human rights protections and judicial independence. The lower house of its bicameral parliament (the Majlis al-Shura, or Shura Council) has been an elective [...] |
2005-05-16 13:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KPAO KMPI AMGT ECON PREL PGOV MU |
| 05MUSCAT795 | MEDIA REACTION: DESECRATIONS, OPERATIONS, MACHINATIONS [...] Two pieces on the alleged Quran desecration at Guantanamo Bay appeared on the editorial page of the privately-owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" on May 15. The first, entitled "Quran Desecration and al-Aqsa," was written by Lebanese columnist Zuhair Majid: "It is a season of desecration for all [...] |
2005-05-17 05:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT8 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/02/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee January 2 to review the Embassy's security posture following to the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the [...] |
2005-01-02 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT802 | OUTREACH FOLLOWING NEWSWEEK'S RETRACTION [...] The Embassy e-mailed copies of the May 16 Washington File to all six major daily newspapers in the Sultanate, and hand- delivered the article entitled "Newsweek Report of Quran's Desecration Called Erroneous (Pentagon says report is wrong, magazine expresses regret)" to the editors of each news [...] |
2005-05-17 11:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PREL KMDR SOCI OIIP KISL MU |
| 05MUSCAT815 | SOHAR: BOOMTOWN OMAN [...] (C) Summary: The city of Sohar on Oman's Batinah Coast near the UAE border is poised for dramatic growth as billions of investment dollars pour into a massive industrial port project. Representing Oman's most visible diversification effort, Sohar will be transformed over the next five years as [...] |
2005-05-18 10:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV EWWT EIND ETRD EMIN MU |
| 05MUSCAT818 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/18/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 18 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-18 14:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT819 | OMAN ONLINE: THE QURAN, THE COLLEGE, AND THE COPS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet chat rooms "al-Sablah" and "al- Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wh [...] |
2005-05-21 02:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT831 | OMAN ADOPTS IAEA'S CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE SAFETY [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-22 11:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP TRGY ENRG KSTC PARM PREL MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT833 | OMAN WITHDRAWS CANDIDACY OF JUDGE TO LAW OF SEA [...] No summary [...] |
2005-05-22 11:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHSA TPHY PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT834 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/21/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 21 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-22 11:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT836 | OMAN RATIFIES WOMEN'S RIGHTS CONVENTION [...] (SBU) A royal decree May 7 ratified Oman's joining the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), but with four reservations on Convention articles deemed potentially contrary to Omani legislation, and a catch-all reservation against anything that mi [...] |
2005-05-22 13:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KWMN SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT84 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/16/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee January 16 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members of the EAC noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC a [...] |
2005-01-16 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT842 | MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRACY, MEDIA MISTAKES, AND IRAQ [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an editorial on May 17 entitled "The Limits of Democracy": "The trend among most societies nowadays is to concentrate on the large-scale spread of democracy. Public participation, freedom of thought and expression, and the preservation of indi [...] |
2005-05-24 04:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT850 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/25/2005 [...] (SBU) The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on May 25 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-05-25 10:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT852 | OMAN ONLINE: WISHING FOR REFORM; MOANING ABOUT MINISTER; [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-05-25 13:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT853 | FEEDBACK: LEGAL REGULATORY WORKSHOP IN OMAN [...] (SBU) The Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program sponsored an Export Control Legal-Regulatory Workshop in Muscat May 15-18, 2005. Over 25 officials attended the 4-day event and shared comments on the current state of export controls in Oman. While the course provided an aw [...] |
2005-05-25 13:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC PARM KNNP KSTC TSPL MU |
| 05MUSCAT858 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 05/29/2005 [...] (SBU) The CDA chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) May 29 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that th [...] |
2005-05-29 10:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT863 | CAMEL RACING TRANSFERRED TO MINISTRY OF SPORTS [...] (U) In an unexpected move May 24, authority over Oman's Camel and Equestrian Association (OCEA) was transferred by royal directive to the Ministry of Sports Affairs (MSA). Addressing camel owners at the association's new premises outside of Barka, royal family member Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq al [...] |
2005-05-30 05:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM ETRD ELAB PREL KOCI PINR MU |
| 05MUSCAT864 | POLIO: OMANI RE-INOCULATIONS, ARAB FUND-RAISING [...] (SBU) The local UNICEF representative offered details of Omani and GCC efforts to confront the potential polio threat emanating from the outbreak in neighboring Yemen. The Ministry of Health is embarking on the revaccination of all children under age five, and is participating in GCC fund-rai [...] |
2005-05-30 06:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TBIO AMED EAID PREL XF MU ESTH |
| 05MUSCAT866 | MEDIA REACTION: LAURA BUSH, ABU MAZEN, AND FREEDOM [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried an article by Dr. Ali Abdulkarim bin Ali bin Jawad on May 25 entitled "Laura Bush's New Title?": "Laura Bush's speech, in which she called on the people of the Middle East to cooperate for a brighter future, was notable for its positive and re [...] |
2005-05-30 09:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT875 | OMANI RESPONSE TO MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE: [...] (C) Defending Oman's forward-leaning track record toward Israel, and indicating a willingness to go even beyond USG requests for expanding ties with it, the Omani Foreign Ministry argued that Israel's delay in matching Palestinian Authority implementation of Roadmap commitments prevents Muscat [...] |
2005-05-31 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETRD EAID KPAL KBCT XF MU |
| 05MUSCAT886 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/01/2005 [...] (SBU) The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 1 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy [...] |
2005-06-01 12:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT887 | 2005 TIP REPORT DELIVERED TO OMAN [...] (SBU) Given the Thursday-Friday local weekend (ref B), A/DCM conveyed the 2005 Trafficking in Persons report on Oman (ref A) to Humaid al-Maani, Political Advisor to the MFA Under Secretary, during a pre-arranged June 1 meeting to discuss Oman's critique of our Human Rights Report. Based on a [...] |
2005-06-01 13:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OPRC KCRM KWMN PHUM PREL SMIG MU |
| 05MUSCAT888 | OMAN ONLINE: FIERY WORDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-06-01 13:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI EIND PGOV IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT898 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/04/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 4 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-06-04 14:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT900 | SOHAR FIRE: BURNING INFRASTRUCTURE QUESTIONS [...] (SBU) A major fire destroyed roughly half of a polypropylene factory in the rapidly industrializing port city of Sohar on May 29. Authorities needed more than eight hours to contain the blaze, drawing on fire-fighting resources from over 240 km away. The incident has raised a crescendo of cr [...] |
2005-06-05 03:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EIND EINV EWWT MU |
| 05MUSCAT904 | US-EU IRAQ CONFERENCE: DELIVERABLES [...] (SBU) Summary: Oman's attendance at the US-EU International Conference on Iraq will be determined upon the return of the Foreign Minister, perhaps during the week of June 11. The MFA's Arab Affairs chief indicated to the Dutch (EU representative) that Oman would like to see the draft communiq [...] |
2005-06-06 03:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV EAID EIND ECON IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT909 | MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINE, MAJLIS AL-SHURA, IRAQ [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" ran an editorial on June 4 under the headline "The Need To Tidy Up The Palestinian House": "Despite Abu Mazen's efforts to tidy up the Palestinian house -- especially its security apparatus -- it seems that there are still some Palestinians intent on [...] |
2005-06-06 12:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT922 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/08/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 8 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-06-08 08:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT926 | OMAN ONLINE: FLOWERS, SPEECHES, AND BOOKS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-06-08 11:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 05MUSCAT929 | DR. EDWARD GRAHAM: A WISE INVESTMENT FOR OMAN [...] PA Muscat organized a one-hour digital videoconference (DVC) with Dr. Edward Graham, Senior Fellow at the Institute for International Economics, on June 7, 2005 at the Embassy. Revolving around the topic of foreign direct investment (FDI), and optimally timed to take advantage of the anticipate [...] |
2005-06-10 10:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT930 | TAKING SHARIA OUT OF LAW SCHOOL? [...] (SBU) The Dean of the College of Sharia and Law has confirmed rumors that the government will split up his institution, folding the law college into Sultan Qaboos University while the Sharia students will be sent to a religious institute. While the Dean expects the organizational shift to be [...] |
2005-06-11 02:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SCUL KMPI KISL PGOV ECON MU |
| 05MUSCAT931 | SULTAN PARDONS CONVICTED IBADHIS [...] (C) Sultan Qaboos issued a decree June 9 pardoning the thirty-one Ibadhis sentenced May 2 for belonging to a secret organization and seeking to overthrow the state. It is unknown if the thirty-one, who include several high-ranking officials, will be permitted to return to their jobs. We beli [...] |
2005-06-11 02:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINS KISL MU |
| 05MUSCAT932 | U.S. COAST GUARD ENGAGES OMANI GOVERNMENT ON ISPS [...] (U) A representative of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) International Port Security Program initiated a dialogue with the government of Oman on efforts to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code. The visit revealed important developments in Omani maritime security [...] |
2005-06-11 06:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM ETTC EWWT KSTC ETRD MU |
| 05MUSCAT937 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/11/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 11 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-06-12 03:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT950 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: PRAISE FOR THE PARDONS [...] Summary: All of Oman's major daily newspapers carried front- page coverage of the June 9 decree by Sultan Qaboos pardoning the thirty-one Ibadhi Muslims convicted last month of belonging to a secret organization and seeking to overthrow the state. The SIPDIS newspapers universally lauded th [...] |
2005-06-13 01:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP KISL PGOV PINS MU |
| 05MUSCAT961 | MEDIA REACTION: AMERICA'S IMAGE, G-8 DEBT RELIEF, AND [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an op-ed by Abdullah al-Iyan on June 13 entitled "Why Ask The Question?": "After September 11, 2001, many American thinkers and writers asked the question: `Why do they hate us?' The answer lies in stories like the Quran desecration at Guant [...] |
2005-06-14 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT962 | EMBASSY DONATES 280 WHEELCHAIRS TO OMAN [...] On June 13, the Ambassador presided over a well-publicized ceremony to donate 280 wheelchairs to Helping Hands, a local charitable organization. The ceremony was the culmination of an offer made by the Department one year ago. End summary. ------------------ Getting It Rolling ------------ [...] |
2005-06-15 07:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI EAID PREL MU |
| 05MUSCAT967 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/15/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 15 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-06-15 11:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT972 | OMAN ONLINE: MERCY AND MISSILES [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message boards "al-Sablah" and "al-Majarra" are the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic- language fora for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, no [...] |
2005-06-18 02:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO PREL SOCI MNUC IR MU |
| 05MUSCAT977 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 06/18/2005 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on June 18 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the [...] |
2005-06-18 14:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC |
| 05MUSCAT98 | MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: POST ELECTION PALESTINE, IRAQI [...] Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on January 15 under the title, "After the Palestinian Election": "Now that the Palestinians have democratically elected Mr. Abbas as their leader, the hard part will begin. Mr. Abbas in his new role as President must now carry the w [...] |
2005-01-17 12:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT986 | OMAN TO ATTEND IRAQ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE [...] (C) Per refs A and B, on June 19, the Embassy delivered copies of the draft conference statement for the upcoming Iraq International Conference in Brussels to the Foreign Ministry, as well as the list of small-scale project suggestions that states may wish to fund to aid Iraq's reconstruction [...] |
2005-06-19 11:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAID IZ MU |
| 05MUSCAT987 | COMMERCE MINISTER TOUTS FTA IN MEDIA ROUNDTABLE [...] Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan addressed a roundtable forum on June 18 that was hosted by the Oman Establishment for Press, News, Publications and Advertising in which he urged the Omani private sector to take advantage of the opportunities to be presented by the U.S. [...] |
2005-06-19 11:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EINV PREL OPRC MU |
| 05MUSCAT988 | MEDIA REACTION: RICE'S VISIT, DOHA SUMMIT [...] "Oman," the government-owned Arabic-language daily, published an editorial on June 20 under the headline "Rice's Visit And The Importance Of The Peace Process": "Secretary Rice's visit to the region is important not only for moving the peace process forward, but also for further developing U [...] |
2005-06-21 02:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 05MUSCAT993 | EMBASSY MUSCAT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE [...] Embassy Muscat formally launched its new website at a well- attended ceremony on June 18. After remarks from the Ambassador, the Embassy's webmaster conducted a guided tour of the site. This new Internet presence significantly upgrades our informational outreach capabilities. End summary. [...] |
2005-06-21 13:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO MU |
| 05MUSCAT997 | OMAN: DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN IRAQ, SUPPORT FOR ITG [...] (U) In further response (refs B and C) to our demarche on ref A points encouraging Omani support for the Iraqi government and re-establishing a diplomatic presence in Baghdad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a Note Verbale to the Embassy dated June 20. 2. (SBU) In its communication, th [...] |
2005-06-22 04:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL IZ MU |
| 06MUSCAT10 | MEDIA REACTION: Ex-Syrian Leader's Comments, Economic [...] The privately owned daily "Al-Watan" published an editorial on January 1 under the title "Behind Khadam's Separation": "The former Syrian vice president Abdul Halim Khadam's clashes with fellow Syrian leaders date to former president Hafiz al- Asad's time, but his disputes increased during B [...] |
2006-01-04 08:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 06MUSCAT100 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/25/2006 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on January 25 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting (reftel), and agreed that the E [...] |
2006-01-26 10:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS MU EAC |
| 06MUSCAT1000 | BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN UN SECURITY [...] (C) In a June 20 call on Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi, the Ambassador delivered reftel points, urging Oman's support for Guatemala's candidacy to the UN Security Council. Bin Alawi noted with a smile that Venezuelan President Chavez was in Tripoli during the Minist [...] |
2006-06-20 14:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL |
| 06MUSCAT1001 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TEMPORARY MECHANISM FOR [...] (U) This is an action request for NEA; please see para 3. 2. (C) During a June 20 call on Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi, the Ambassador delivered reftel talking points on the new temporary international mechanism (TIM) for providing assistance to the Palestinians, [...] |
2006-06-21 07:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL EAID IS MU |
| 06MUSCAT1004 | INSIDE OMANI DEPORTATION CENTER, SEEKING [...] This is an action request for ECA, DRL, and G/TIP; please see paragraph 11. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (U) A June 19 visit to one of Oman's largest deportation centers revealed a clean and well-organized facility, and included a tour of the arrivals processing rooms, sleeping quarters [...] |
2006-06-21 10:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF SMIG PHUM PBTS OEXC KPAO PGOV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1007 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: YEMENI GCC ASSISTANCE REQUEST [...] (C) Oman FM Bin Alawi affirmed on June 20 that the GCC will respond positively to Yemen's aid request, but amounts will be determined in November. He feared Yemen had exaggerated expectations, and that it lacked the absorptive capacity or management skills to handle such a large sum in such a [...] |
2006-06-21 14:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PTER MU YM |
| 06MUSCAT1008 | OMANI FRUSTRATION WITH THE FTA: WE UNDERSTAND BUT [...] (C) In a June 21 meeting with the Ambassador, the Sultan's Advisor for External Liaison, Dr. Omar Zawawi, conveyed Oman's growing frustration with and disappointment over the slow progress of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement in the U.S. Congress. Zawawi confirmed that other Omani official [...] |
2006-06-21 15:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1014 | OMANIS REQUEST VISIT TO U.S. DEPORTATION CENTER [...] This is an action request for Department of Homeland Security ICE and CBP. Please see para 4. 2. In response to recent requests by the Royal Oman Police (reftel), the Embassy seeks DHS assistance in arranging a senior-level Omani government delegation to visit immigration detention/depor [...] |
2006-06-26 04:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM OEXC KPAO PREL SMIG PBTS PREF MU |
| 06MUSCAT1015 | OMAN FM UPDATE ON IRAN, GULF SECURITY [...] (C) In a June 20 meeting, FM Yusuf bin Alawi again voiced optimism that Iran would respond positively to the West's latest offer, but noted that several Arab states were angry that details on security assurances to Iran were not discussed with them first. He sees a 1987 Security Council resol [...] |
2006-06-26 07:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ELNT EWWT EPET XF IR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1023 | MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI SECURITY; IRANIAN OIL; ARAB LEAGUE [...] On June 26, all Omani papers carried prominent front-page coverage of the previous day's Palestinian attack on an Israeli checkpoint. English-language papers carried wire-service coverage, on which Arabic papers also drew, adding that Palestinian militants had "martyred" themselves. Iran cov [...] |
2006-06-28 05:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT103 | IPR SEMINAR RAISES AWARENESS, BUILDS BRIDGES [...] The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with MEPI funding, held a successful intellectual property rights (IPR) seminar for Arab prosecutors in Muscat from January 22-24. Following a similar program for judges in Dubai (reftel), the event drew over 45 participants from the MEPI region. [...] |
2006-01-26 12:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EIND PREL KIPR KMPI KPAO MU |
| 06MUSCAT1032 | SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION [...] Israel's incursion into Gaza was front-paged in Oman's Arabic- language newspapers. Privately-owned "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) covered the story most emotionally, with a headline proclaiming, "Israel Begins the Burning of Gaza." An editorial in "Al-Watan" described the Palestinian strik [...] |
2006-06-28 13:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT104 | OMAN ONLINE: BIN LADEN TAPE, FTA, DANISH CARTOONS [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2006-01-26 13:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1046 | ILO DELIVERS WORKSHOP ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION [...] A three-day workshop entitled "Freedom of Association and Social Dialogue" began July 1 for members of Oman's 43 representative committees, educating them on the role of labor unions. Experts from the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Arab Labor Organization (ALO) and from other Gu [...] |
2006-07-02 12:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1048 | TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: ASIAN AMBASSADORS OFFER [...] (SBU) In a June 27 working lunch hosted by the Ambassador, colleagues from labor-source countries outlined problems faced by their nationals, to include salary arrears, lack of legal status, and in some cases physical or sexual assault. Their suggested improvements include additional labor pro [...] |
2006-07-02 13:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB PHUM SMIG PBTS PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1054 | MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL'S GAZA INCURSION, U.S. SENATE [...] Israel's Gaza incursion received front page coverage in both the English and Arabic-language press this week. Most Arabic articles were accompanied by photographs of bombed-out Palestinian government buildings, and scenes of distressed civilians. The U.S. Senate's ratification of the U.S.-Om [...] |
2006-07-03 11:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1064 | CURRENT STATE OF HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS IN OMAN [...] A UNICEF report outlining its next five-year plan for Oman, done in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, provided updated statistics on the AIDS picture. While HIV rates remain low and numerically static, incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases is rising. The Ministry of Health [...] |
2006-07-05 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO KHIV SOCI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1065 | FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PART OF NATIONAL ACTION [...] Troubling polling data on the acceptability of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Oman in a 2001 questionnaire for 16-18 year olds led to a 2004 survey of Omani women by the Ministry of Health. The surprising results revealed that more than half of women polled had undergone FGM. UNICEF's co [...] |
2006-07-05 13:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SOCI KWMN PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1084 | OMAN FULFILLS FTA LABOR PROMISE TO CONGRESS THREE [...] In a surprise, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree July 7 that fulfills, three months early, the important labor reforms to which Commerce Minister Maqbool Sultan committed the Sultanate in his March 26 letter to the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman. Minister Sultan told the Ambassador [...] |
2006-07-10 12:01:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1090 | MEDIA REACTION: GAZA, IRAQI NATIONAL RECONCILIATION [...] Israel's Gaza incursion continued to receive strongly negative coverage in the local press. In a July 7 front-page article, privately owned Arabic-language daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) reported that Israel had used unspecified "internationally-banned weapons." Arabic papers front-pag [...] |
2006-07-11 07:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1098 | MOVING FORWARD ON MATH AND SCIENCE COLLABORATION [...] This is an action request for OES. Please see paragraph 4. 2. On July 11, Econoff delivered ref A reply to Dr. Sana Sabeel Sulaiman al-Belushi, Director of the Technical Office for Studies and Development, Ministry of Education (MOE). Econoff noted that after careful review of the comments [...] |
2006-07-11 13:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | TSPL KGLB PREL SENV MU |
| 06MUSCAT1117 | TFLE 01: OMAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF CRISIS [...] (U) After providing initial widespread front-page coverage on the crisis and publishing critical editorials of U.S. support of Israel and its veto of an Arab-League sponsored resolution in the Security Council, several media sources have tempered their headlines by highlighting "good news" sto [...] |
2006-07-17 03:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KMDR KWBG MU |
| 06MUSCAT1119 | OMAN REACTS POSITIVELY TO SUGGESTED ANTI-TIP [...] In a July 16 meeting with the Ambassador, MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi undertook to review SIPDIS suggested actions to improve upon Oman's TIER 2 Watch List ranking in the Department's 2006 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. These actions include passing specific anti-TIP l [...] |
2006-07-17 11:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SMIG PHUM ELAB KCRM PGOV MU |
| 06MUSCAT112 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/28/2006 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on January 28 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting (reftel), and agreed that the [...] |
2006-01-29 10:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 06MUSCAT1122 | MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL-LEBANESE CONFLICT; OMANI LABOR [...] SUMMARY: Omani press decries "Israeli aggression." Private "Al-Watan" daily laments "Arab silence." The state-owned "Oman" deems Hezbollah to be conducting "legitimate resistance." In online discussion, participants applaud Oman's new labor law, even if "American pressure" is behind it, and [...] |
2006-07-17 12:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1124 | OMAN EYES CITES ACCESSION [...] In a July 17 meeting, the Ambassador discussed the status of Oman's accession to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) with Under Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi (deputy-minister equivalent). Sayyid Badr [...] |
2006-07-17 14:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1145 | SINGAPORE INTERESTED IN MEDRC MEMBERSHIP [...] On July 16, the Ambassador explored the possibility of expanding membership in the Muscat-based Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) with Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. Sayyid Badr noted that he had recently raised this issue with Singapo [...] |
2006-07-22 14:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1151 | MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON; DANGER OF REGIONAL [...] SUMMARY: "Lebanon is burning, and the whole world is standing still watching," according to government-owned daily "Oman," which also calls for a ceasefire to stop "Zionist aggression." A columnist for "Oman" condemns Arab governments for "acting against the will of their citizens." Privatel [...] |
2006-07-24 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1169 | TFLE01: IRAN MOVING TO BECOME REGIONAL POWER SAYS [...] (C) Summary: Oman supports the P5 1 incentive package (reftel) to Tehran and has communicated its recommendation to the Iranian government that it accept the offer, according to the Sultan's Special Advisor for Cultural Affairs and frequent "special envoy" of Sultan Qaboos to Iran, Abdul 'Az [...] |
2006-07-30 12:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MU IR KNNP |
| 06MUSCAT1173 | TFLE01: QANA STRIKE FUELS CRITICAL PRESS COVERAGE [...] The Israeli air strikes on the Lebanese village of Qana drew overwhelmingly virulent and critical front-page press coverage from each of Oman's daily newspapers. Amidst headlines reading "Bloodbath in Lebanon" and "Global Outrage over Israeli Carnage," the dailies concentrated on civilian ca [...] |
2006-07-31 12:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KMDR KPAO MU |
| 06MUSCAT1174 | TFLE01: LEBANON CRISIS COMPLICATES IRAN NUCLEAR [...] (C) In a July 30 meeting with the Ambassador, MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr said the crisis in Lebanon is SIPDIS complicating the Iran nuclear matter and may even harden Tehran's position. He urged that greater emphasis be placed on continuing diplomatic efforts to build trust in the reg [...] |
2006-07-31 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PARM PREL AORC MU |
| 06MUSCAT1177 | TFLE01: OMAN REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN DELIVERY OF [...] During a July 30 meeting with the Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary (deputy-secretary equivalent) Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi expressed his concern regarding the logistics of delivering humanitarian assistance for Lebanese relief efforts. Sayyid Badr noted that Oman is current [...] |
2006-08-01 05:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SOCI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1181 | MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON [...] SUMMARY: Government-owned daily "Oman" expresses hope that the Rome conference may end Israel/Hezbollah combat; privately owned "Al-Watan" sees the Palestinians as victims of Israeli and "superpower" interests; "Oman" predicts retaliation for the Qana bombing; a columnist for "Oman" compares [...] |
2006-08-01 11:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1183 | TFLE01: OMAN CONDEMNS ISRAELI ACTIONS, CALLS FOR [...] (U) On July 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning Israel's airstrikes in Qana, characterizing the actions as a "massacre." Extending its "heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of victims of ongoing military actions," the statement further cond [...] |
2006-08-01 13:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KMDR KPAO MU |
| 06MUSCAT1191 | TFLE01: IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, SUPPORT FOR GOL: [...] (C) On August 5, the Ambassador delivered ref A points to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi. Bin Alawi fully agreed with these points and the broader strategy contained therein, but made clear that the Arab League would not move beyond endorsing Lebanese Prime Minister F [...] |
2006-08-06 06:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1198 | MEDIA REACTION: LEBANON, THE UN, AND THE ARAB LEAGUE [...] SUMMARY: Government-owned "Oman" newspaper says UN ceasefire efforts in Lebanon are insufficient and sees the "Seven-Point Plan" as an opportunity for Arab unity; privately owned "Al- Watan" calls the US-French ceasefire plan a mere diplomatic maneuver and a reward for Israeli "aggression." [...] |
2006-08-07 13:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT120 | OMAN SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" carried a January 25 editorial under the headline "Palestinian Elections Consolidate Democracy": "Today the Palestinian legislative elections start in the midst of extensive Israeli efforts to block those elections. Palestinian efforts to organize ele [...] |
2006-01-30 11:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 06MUSCAT1204 | HIGHER EDUCATION: MINISTER SEEKS MORE U.S. TIES [...] The Ambassador called on the Minister of Higher Education to discuss the Embassy's work in higher education, in promoting U.S. education, and in helping facilitate ties between U.S. and Omani institutions. In return, the Minister was forthright in asking for more cooperation and additional pr [...] |
2006-08-08 11:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KPAO OEXC SCUL PREL KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1205 | TFLE01: OMANI FM ASSESSES BEIRUT AL MINISTERIAL [...] (C) On August 8, the Ambassador spoke with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi regarding the August 7 Arab League meeting in Beirut. As expected, bin Alawi affirmed the Arab League's unanimous support for the Lebanese government, including full support for Prime Minister [...] |
2006-08-08 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT121 | OMAN MEDIA REACTION: IRAQI NATIONAL UNITY, APPEAL FOR [...] The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on January 29 under the title "The New Iraqi Government": "The negotiations in Iraq between different political powers are important steps toward national unity. There is a discussion about forming one political bloc which wil [...] |
2006-01-30 11:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 06MUSCAT1218 | TFLE01: OMAN TO TAKE CUE FROM LEBANON ON RESOLUTION [...] No summary [...] |
2006-08-12 13:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC MU |
| 06MUSCAT122 | 2005/2006 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON ALLIED [...] (SBU) ECONOMIC/POLITICAL FACTORS: There have been no major policy changes since the 2004 report (ref B). Oman remains a stalwart ally in the global war on terrorism and key Arab proponent of regional stability, including USG stabilization efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Long-standing milita [...] |
2006-01-31 06:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MCAP MASS MARR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1222 | MEDIA REACTION: POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF [...] SUMMARY: Government daily "Oman" is skeptical that UN Resolution 1701 meets Arab demands, but also says the resolution "restores hope for peace." Private daily "Al Watan" hails the Lebanese military "victory" against Israel, but is wary that Israel's "manipulations" will reduce the potency of [...] |
2006-08-14 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1223 | OMAN FTA: MINISTER COMMITTED TO JAN [...] (U) Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbul bin Ali Sultan expressed to the Ambassador his commitment to ensuring that necessary regulations are in place for the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement to take effect on January 1, 2007. He also expressed his government's interest in promoting the FTA th [...] |
2006-08-14 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON BEXP KIPR PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1248 | OMAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO LEBANESE RELIEF EFFORTS [...] (SBU) On August 20, Econoff spoke with Humaid al-Maani, Deputy Director of the Under Secretary's office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), regarding Omani government efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to Lebanese government agencies. Al-Maani remarked that the Omani government had a [...] |
2006-08-21 14:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAID LE MU |
| 06MUSCAT1249 | MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY'S OP-ED, LEBANESE DEPLOYMENT, [...] SUMMARY: Arabic- and English-languages dailies carry Secretary Rice's op-ed, "A Path to Lasting Peace." The Arabic-language state-owned daily says Lebanese unity is "essential." A private Arabic daily, decrying Israeli "terrorism," calls for a strong Lebanese army, navy, and air force. END [...] |
2006-08-22 03:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT125 | OMAN ONLINE: HAMAS VICTORY, AMERICANS INSULTING ISLAM, [...] Summary: The Omani Internet message board "al-Sablah" is the liveliest and most comprehensive Arabic-language forum for political and social discourse in the country, touching on issues and personalities rarely addressed in the conventional media. While not totally free, nor wholly reflective o [...] |
2006-01-31 09:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO SOCI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1255 | MINISTRY OF MANPOWER COMBATING TIP AND ILLEGAL [...] (SBU) Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali bin Juma highlighted for the Ambassador some of the challenges that his ministry faces in combating trafficking in persons (TIP), including a burgeoning sponsor system and registration of false companies. The Minister reiterated his commitment to comba [...] |
2006-08-22 11:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD PHUM PGOV SMIG MU |
| 06MUSCAT1259 | VENEZUELAN ENVOY VISITS MUSCAT [...] (U) The Omani press reported August 22 that "Tameer Bo-Ras," the Venezuelan Deputy Minister of Higher Education and "envoy" of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, visited Muscat August 21 and delivered a written message for Sultan Qaboos to Omani Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al- [...] |
2006-08-22 15:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC MU |
| 06MUSCAT126 | OMAN FM IN IRAN: CARROTS, NOT STICKS [...] (C) On January 29, Omani FM Yusuf bin Alawi began an official visit to Iran, meeting with President Ahmadi-Nejad, FM Mottaki, and other officials. His active discussions on invigorating bilateral trade relations, particularly in the oil and gas sector, transport and industrial investment, rai [...] |
2006-01-31 09:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ETTC ETRD IR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1267 | GUATEMALAN CANDIDACY FOR UNSC SEAT: OMAN [...] (C) In a meeting August 27 with Omani Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, the Ambassador noted the recent visit of a Venezuelan envoy to Muscat (ref A) and asked about Oman's position on the contested election for a UN Security Council Seat between Venezuela and Guatemala. [...] |
2006-08-28 07:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC MU |
| 06MUSCAT1268 | OMAN CONSIDERS RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE FOR [...] (C) At a meeting with Omani Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi on August 27, the Ambassador SIPDIS urged the Omani government to consider providing humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance to Lebanon in addition to the humanitarian supplies already delivered (ref [...] |
2006-08-28 07:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID LE MU |
| 06MUSCAT1277 | MEDIA REACTION: UNSCR 1701, AMNESTY LEBANON REPORT, IRAN, [...] SUMMARY: Government-owned, Arabic-language daily "Oman" worries about renewed conflict in southern Lebanon, lauds Iran's "positive" response on its nuclear capabilities, and reprints excerpts of Seymour Hersh's "New Yorker" article alleging Israeli-U.S. collusion over the conflict in Lebanon. [...] |
2006-08-28 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1282 | MICROSOFT, GOVERNMENT INK CONTRACT [...] (U) The Omani government recently concluded a three-year, five million USD per year agreement with Microsoft for the use of the company's licensed products. The contract, which includes a commitment by Microsoft to invest two million USD per year in training programs for government employees a [...] |
2006-08-30 05:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ECON KIPR TSPL ETRD MU |
| 06MUSCAT129 | OMAN UP ON IPR [...] (U) On January 23, Yahya bin Issa al-Riyami, Oman's newly appointed FTA point-person on IPR issues, reiterated the Sultanate's long-standing interest in protecting intellectual property rights. He reported that an inter-ministerial committee has been effective in combating software and media [...] |
2006-01-31 13:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD KIPR EIND KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1299 | SCENESETTER: VISIT OF COMMERCE DAS HOLLY VINEYARD [...] (U) Greetings and welcome to the Sultanate of Oman. My team and I look forward to your arrival on September 16 to promote the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement. In addition to your attendance at a reception for labor and customs officials, we are seeking meetings with the Minister of Commerce a [...] |
2006-09-04 05:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ECON ETRD EAIR EIND PGOV PREL OTRA MU |
| 06MUSCAT130 | OMAN FM IN IRAN: CARROTS, NOT STICKS [...] (C) On January 29, Omani FM Yusuf bin Alawi began an official visit to Iran, meeting with President Ahmadi-Nejad, FM Mottaki, and other officials. Publicly, Bin Alawi endorsed Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy while calling for a peaceful solution to the current stand-off. He also spok [...] |
2006-01-31 13:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ETTC ETRD IR MU |
| 06MUSCAT131 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 01/31/2006 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on January 31 to review the Embassy's security posture prior to the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting (reftel), and agreed t [...] |
2006-01-31 14:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS MU |
| 06MUSCAT1310 | MEDIA REACTION: VIOLENCE IN IRAQ, UNSCR 1706, ANNAN'S [...] On September 3, government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) carried an editorial, "Control of Violence in Iraq, the Responsibility of all Parties:" "Despite all the loud cries that warned against the continuation of the slaughter and assassinations in Iraq and the severe blood [...] |
2006-09-04 13:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1316 | OMAN URGES MORE DIALOGUE, NOT SANCTIONS, ON IRAN [...] (C) Summary: Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi told the Ambassador September 4 that more dialogue, not sanctions, was needed to reach an agreement with Iran on its nuclear program. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister had assured Alawi earlier the same day that Tehran [...] |
2006-09-05 13:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP IR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1317 | OMAN UNDECIDED ON CONTESTED GRULAC SEAT ON UN [...] (C) In a meeting with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi on September 4 to discuss a range of issues (septels), the Ambassador made another strong pitch in support of Guatemala's candidacy for the contested GRULAC seat on the UN Security Council. Alawi replied that Oman [...] |
2006-09-05 14:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC MU |
| 06MUSCAT1327 | ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL DEMARCHE: OMAN [...] (C) Summary: Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi will not attend the Arab League Ministerial in Cairo. Alawi is supportive of UNSCR 1701, but criticized Israel for refusing to lift its blockade of Lebanon. On Sudan, Alawi said that Oman will join its Arab League counte [...] |
2006-09-06 12:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE SU MU |
| 06MUSCAT1328 | DEMARCHE ON NAM SUMMIT: OMAN [...] (C) The Ambassador delivered ref E demarche on September 4 to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi regarding the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Cuba, in addition to discussing the upcoming Arab League Ministerial and other topics with the Minister (refs A-C). Alawi [...] |
2006-09-06 13:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KPAL UNGA MU |
| 06MUSCAT133 | OMAN SWEPT BY DENMARK BOYCOTT FERVOR [...] (U) Prompted by the flap over cartoons in Denmark deemed offensive to Islam, Omani consumers are boycotting Danish products with increasing fervor, and grocers are taking note by pulling suspected goods from shelves. Some companies have taken out advertisements to remind consumers that they ar [...] |
2006-02-01 13:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL MU DA |
| 06MUSCAT1337 | URGING SUPPORT FOR LEBANON: OMAN [...] (C) Pol/Econ chief delivered ref A and B demarches September 11 to Humaid Maani, Deputy Director of the Office of MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. Echoing earlier comments to the Ambassador by Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi (ref C), Maani responded that O [...] |
2006-09-11 13:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MASS EAID LE MU |
| 06MUSCAT134 | YBA POSES QUESTION RE IRAN [...] (U) Please note action request in para 8. 2. (C) Begin Summary: Notwithstanding the January 30 P5 2 Statement, the Omanis believe the key to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis may lie in a slight delay before referring the Iranian case to the UNSC, even if no action is cal [...] |
2006-02-01 14:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET ETTC IR MU UN UNSC |
| 06MUSCAT1345 | MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 11 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, ARAB LEAGUE [...] SUMMARY: Omani press gave wide (and surprisingly acerbic) coverage to the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Columnists in government-owned "Oman" suggested that 9/11 was an Israeli conspiracy and that the post-9/11 U.S. "adventure" has made the world less secure. After the recen [...] |
2006-09-12 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1368 | ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, GCC INTEGRATION HIGHLIGHT [...] (SBU) Top government officials and business representatives discussed efforts to both diversify Oman's economy and forge stronger regional integration with its GCC neighbors during an Economist-sponsored roundtable. The closed-door meeting provided the private sector a rare opportunity to en [...] |
2006-09-18 11:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ETRD PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1370 | MEDIA REACTION: ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS, PALESTINIAN [...] SUMMARY: Omani dailies cover the Ambassador's presentation of credentials, look positively at the International Religious Freedom Report, and accord major coverage to the unfolding controversy regarding the Pope's comments on Islam. State daily "Oman" stresses the importance of mutual unders [...] |
2006-09-18 12:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1371 | BOND MARKETS AND SME DEVELOPMENT ON CMA AGENDA [...] (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (C) On September 11, the Ambassador discussed the recent rise in Oman's securities market with Capital Market Authority (CMA) Executive President Yahya al-Jabri. Al-Jabri commented that the 140-firm Muscat Securities Market (MSM) h [...] |
2006-09-18 13:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV PREL KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1376 | OMAN: SHARP REACTION TO POPE'S REMARKS [...] (C) Summary: Pope Benedict's recent remarks on Islam elicited an unexpectedly strong reaction in the local press, Internet chatrooms, and general conversation. Omani papers have prominently highlighted international critical response to the papal comments, while editorials in Arabic state-ow [...] |
2006-09-19 13:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KISL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1382 | SME DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF DAS VINEYARD VISIT [...] The importance of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development took center stage during Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Holly Vineyard's September 16 meetings SIPDIS in Muscat with top government officials. The FTA will provide the USG an opportunity to work closely with its O [...] |
2006-09-20 09:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ECON EINV ETRD PREL KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1384 | SUCCESSFUL EPA WORKSHOP CONCLUDES [...] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in association with the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, the Omani Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment, and Water Resources, and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), concluded a successful four-day Pri [...] |
2006-09-20 12:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SENV KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1393 | OMAN NOMINATIONS FOR USPTO NOVEMBER INDUSTRIAL [...] No summary [...] |
2006-09-25 13:00:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD KIPR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1394 | MEDIA REACTION: PROSPECTS FOR PEACE, ARAB REFORM, OMAN'S UN [...] SUMMARY: Arabic daily "Al-Watan" says an "honest effort" is needed to achieve Middle East peace. State Arabic daily "Oman" calls for "gradual reforms" in the Arab world to stem regional strife. "Oman" also reports Foreign Minister Bin Alawi's UN speech, and notes Western "collusion" with Is [...] |
2006-09-25 13:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1414 | LARIJANI EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT U.S. INTENTIONS [...] (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 5. 2. (C) Late evening on September 30, the Ambassador met with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi to discuss the Minister's September 30 call earlier that evening from Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Secretary for the [...] |
2006-10-01 12:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MU IR |
| 06MUSCAT1422 | MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN GOVERNANCE, U.S.-OMAN FTA, IRAQ [...] SUMMARY: English daily "Oman" laments Palestinian infighting, lauds the "vital role" of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), criticizes America's "failure" to ensure security in Iraq, and says Arab-Israeli peace must precede regional peace. Arabic daily "Al-Watan" chides Israel for its [...] |
2006-10-02 13:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1423 | TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-10-02 13:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1442 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES IRAN WITH DEPUTY PRIME [...] (C) The Ambassador met with Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmud al-Sa'id on October 2 to discuss regional and bilateral issues. In addition to touching on the Middle East Peace Process, the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement, and Omani economic and social development [...] |
2006-10-04 13:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1451 | MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY'S MIDDLE EAST VISIT, NORTH KOREAN [...] SUMMARY: "Oman" columnist alleges that one aim of Secretary Rice's visit is to divide the Middle East into Arab versus Persian, Sunni versus Shia; "Al-Watan" notes that North Korea's nuclear test coincides with the West's "carrot and stick" policy towards Iran. A columnist in "Al-Watan" call [...] |
2006-10-09 12:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1458 | OFFICIALS SAY OMAN STILL ON TRACK TO PUBLISH NEW [...] (SBU) Summary: Officials at the Ministry of Manpower claim they are on track to publish regulations implementing recent reforms to Oman's labor law before the target date of October 31. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has seen a draft of the regulations and provided comments. Unio [...] |
2006-10-10 11:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT146 | EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 02/04/2006 [...] (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the full Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on February 4 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local holiday weekend. Members noted no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting, and agreed that the [...] |
2006-02-06 07:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KSAC KHLS KVPR MU EAC |
| 06MUSCAT1468 | OMAN MOVES EARLY TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION [...] (SBU) The Omani government has started an early media campaign to increase voter registration. In addition to placing announcements on the radio and in newspapers, the Minister of Interior held an unprecedented question-and- answer session at a gathering of the Oman Journalists Association t [...] |
2006-10-11 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT148 | OMAN CALLS FOR IMPROVED INTERNATIONAL POLIO [...] According to local media, four cases of polio were reported in Oman in 2004 and 2005. Two Yemeni brothers, aged 9 and 10, were treated for symptoms of poliomyelitis, while visiting the Sultanate during the summer of 2005. The Omani Ministry Of Health also reported two cases of polio were "i [...] |
2006-02-06 11:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO PREL SA MU ESTH |
| 06MUSCAT1482 | MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY'S MIDEAST TOUR, DPRK NUCLEAR [...] SUMMARY: "Oman" expresses skepticism about Secretary's latest Middle East tour, supports dialogue with Pyongyang, and claims that the Greater Middle East Initiative aims to weaken Arab culture. "Al-Watan" says the West's "double standards" are responsible for North Korea's nuclear program, an [...] |
2006-10-16 11:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1484 | OMAN'S TEXTILE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO SHRINK [...] (U) Oman's textile industry continues to whither away in terms of value and employment, as government statistics confirm a steep drop in production over the past year. While the upcoming implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may stop further declines in this sector, it is [...] |
2006-10-17 14:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KTEX MU |
| 06MUSCAT1487 | RAMADAN IN OMAN: SPIRITS ARE HIGH, BUT SO ARE PRICES [...] (SBU) Omanis are in a generally positive mood as Ramadan draws to a close. Seasonal goodwill, however, has been blemished by complaints of price increases on basic foodstuffs and other items. As elsewhere in the region, Omanis are watching Arabic-language serial programs on television produce [...] |
2006-10-21 03:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SOCI ECON MU |
| 06MUSCAT149 | OMAN ATTENDANCE AT MENA-OECD MINISTERIAL [...] Following up on reftels, on February 4 Pol/Econ chief spoke to Seif al-Rizaiqi, director of the Minister's office at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) to encourage Omani attendance at the upcoming MENA-OECD Investment Ministerial in Jordan. Al-Rizaiqi confirmed Oman's receipt of th [...] |
2006-02-06 11:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV PREL KMPI MU |
| 06MUSCAT1490 | COMMERCE MINISTER ADDRESSES FTA CONCERNS [...] (U) On October 16, Econoff, Poleoff, and Poleassistant attended Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan's address on the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to members of the Oman Journalists' Association. Maqbool used the public engagement to highlight the FTA's expected benef [...] |
2006-10-21 08:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1491 | COMMERCE MINISTER ADDRESSES FTA CONCERNS [...] (U) On October 16, Econoff, Poleoff, and Poleassistant attended Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan's address on the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to members of the Oman Journalists' Association. Maqbool used the public engagement to highlight the FTA's expected benef [...] |
2006-10-21 08:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD EINV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT150 | JUSTICE MINISTER WELCOMES ABA LEGAL TRAINING [...] In a January 30 meeting with a visiting delegation from the American Bar Association (ABA), the Minister of Justice provided enthusiastic feedback re a proposed MEPI-funded training program. He recounted the Ministry's plans to develop a judicial training institute, and solicited Embassy and [...] |
2006-02-06 12:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KMPI KJUS OEXC SCUL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1507 | MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY'S MIDDLE EAST TOUR, CHALLENGES [...] SUMMARY: Youth-oriented "Al-Shabiba" calls Secretary Rice's Middle East tour "nothing new." Privately owned "Al-Watan" writes about political challenges facing Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, and claims the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan. Government-owned "Oman" says Japan's North Korea p [...] |
2006-10-22 09:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1509 | BIG PLANS AHEAD FOR MUSCAT'S TOURISM INDUSTRY [...] (U) The Ministry of Tourism and government-owned Oman Tourism Development Company (OTDC) are moving forward on ambitious plans to develop tourism-related projects in the Muscat metropolitan area. The government envisions the construction of 16 hotels and a convention center within the next fi [...] |
2006-10-22 10:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1510 | SALALAH PINS ECONOMIC HOPES ON PORT, FREE ZONE, [...] (U) The city of Salalah is banking on the growth of its port, free zone, and tourism industries in ongoing efforts to develop its economy. Government and private sector officials express confidence that proposed investments in these sectors will reshape Salalah by 2010 and position the region [...] |
2006-10-22 10:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EIND EWWT PREL MU |
| 06MUSCAT1511 | IMPENDING REGULATIONS MAY TRIGGER INCREASE IN [...] (SBU) Summary: Workers at one of Oman's publicly-owned power plants went on strike before arriving at a settlement on wages and job security. Contacts suggest that the publication of implementing regulations for recent labor law reforms may herald more strikes in the coming year. While conta [...] |
2006-10-22 10:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB EWWT PGOV ETRD ECON MU |
| 06MUSCAT152 | MEDIA REACTION: WEST'S HAMAS POLICY, AND AMERICAN UUSE [...] On January 31, tThe privately owned Arabic daily newspaper "al- Watan" published on January 31 an editorial under the headline, "Why the Palestinians are Paying for the Mistakes of Others:": "The EU and the United States are punishing the Palestinians for electing their own representatives... [...] |
2006-02-06 13:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | KPAO KMDR OIIP MU |
| 06MUSCAT1535 | MEDIA REACTION: FERNANDEZ COMMENTS, DPRK NUCLEAR PROGRAM, [...] SUMMARY: Alberto Fernandez's Al-Jazeera remarks received extensive coverage in local press; government-owned "Oman Daily Observer" ran positive pictures of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi children; private daily "Al-Shabiba" criticized the "double standards" of U.S. policy on Israeli and North Korea [...] |
2006-10-31 12:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1541 | OFFICIALS INSIST LABOR REFORMS COMPLETE [...] (SBU) Officials in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) informed Poleoff on November 1 that regulations covering union organizing, collective bargaining and the right to strike are complete, and await only Minister of Manpower Juma bin al-Juma's signature. The regulations are contained in two minis [...] |
2006-11-01 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1558 | OMAN'S FM ON RECENT VISIT OF IRANIAN FOREIGN [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi November 4 to review the October 31 visit to Oman of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Motaki. Motaki, who stayed for only a few hours, told the Omani Minister that the Iranians had reached an u [...] |
2006-11-06 07:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MU IR |
| 06MUSCAT1561 | MEDIA REACTION: SADDAM VERDICT, IRAQ VIOLENCE, PALESTINIAN [...] SUMMARY: Government-owned "Oman" says Iraqis can curb violence if they cooperate against it; Youth-oriented, privately owned "Al-Shabiba" believes the "civil war" atmosphere in Palestine makes Hamas and Fatah cooperation unlikely and says that U.S. failure to heed Afghanistan's history lessons [...] |
2006-11-06 10:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 06MUSCAT1564 | CUBA EMBARGO AND COUNTRY SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-06 13:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UNGA UN MU |
| 06MUSCAT1565 | STATUS OF OMANI LABOR COMMITMENTS UNDER THE FREE [...] Summary: Oman committed to enact specific labor law reforms by October 31, 2006 under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. To date, Oman has met almost all of its commitments regarding worker protections, collective bargaining and the right to strike. However, it has not published implem [...] |
2006-11-06 13:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB ETRD KMPI PGOV PHUM MU |
| 06MUSCAT1566 | UNSCR 1718 AND THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY [...] (C) Pol/Econ Chief met on November 5 with Ambassador Talab Miran, Chief of the Foreign Ministry's International Organizations Department, to discuss the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and ref A and B points on UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Miran confirmed Omani support for P [...] |
2006-11-06 13:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP UN MU |
| 06MUSCAT1568 | OMAN'S TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION OFFICER [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-08 06:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER KVPR EFIN ETTC MU |
| 06MUSCAT1572 | AMENDING THE CUBA EMBARGO RESOLUTION: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2006-11-08 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREL UNGA UN CU |