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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07MUSCAT825 |
OMAN AIR TO BEGIN LONG-HAUL OPERATIONS [...] (SBU) On August 20, Econoff discussed Oman Air's long-haul service plans with Alan Arch, the airline's commercial director. Arch confirmed that Oman Air would begin nonstop service from Muscat to London beginning on November 15, though airport selection would depend on obtaining commercially- [...] |
2007-08-29 10:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAIR BEXP MU |
| 07MUSCAT83 |
SOMALI MIGRANTS ENTER OMAN THROUGH OPEN BORDER [...] (C) Summary: Emboffs recently visited sections of Oman's border with Yemen, observing that much of the border lacks fencing and generally is open to illegal traffic. Somali immigrants continue to enter Oman along well-traveled smuggling routes, though not in large numbers. Many of the Somali [...] |
2007-01-28 10:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL PHUM MOPS ETTC MNUC SO YE MU |
| 07MUSCAT830 |
OMANI RESPONSE TO IRAQI LEADERS AGREEMENT [...] No summary [...] |
2007-08-29 15:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IZ MU |
| 07MUSCAT843 |
CHAIRMAN EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER LARGE-SCALE [...] (C) On August 30, the Ambassador met with Oman Oil Company (OOC) Chairman Maqbool bin Ali Sultan (who also serves as Oman's Minister of Commerce and Industry) to discuss the company's joint venture with Dow Chemical in constructing a polyethylene plant in the Port of Sohar industrial complex. [...] |
2007-09-04 10:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EIND ECON BEXP MU |
| 07MUSCAT850 |
OMAN'S COMMERCE MINISTER REAFFIRMS DRIVE TOWARD FTA [...] (C) On August 30, the Ambassador met with Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan to discuss outstanding issues related to the implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Maqbool noted that promulgation of three draft laws remains pending. He stated that the [...] |
2007-09-05 04:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PREL ECPS MU |
| 07MUSCAT852 |
OMAN BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE TO APPLICATION 050043972 [...] (SBU) On September 3, Embassy received a formal response from Brigadier General Habeeb bin Muhammad bin Habeeb al-Balushi of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on the purchase of 93 Vision Block 2510-00-630-0790 spare parts to be used for the M-48 tank, as listed ref C. In his letter, al-Balushi no [...] |
2007-09-05 12:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC MU |
| 07MUSCAT860 |
MINISTER CONFIDENT OF OMAN'S FISCAL POSITION [...] (C) Omani Minister of National Economy Ahmed Macki is upbeat on the Sultanate's financial health, despite the significant damage and expense of recovery from Tropical Cyclone Gonu in June. Of greater concern to the Minister is the general rise in prices, which is leading to a lack of affordab [...] |
2007-09-09 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ENRG EPET PREL EAIR MU |
| 07MUSCAT870 |
SCENESETTER FOR CENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL WILLIAM [...] (C) Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome your return to Oman. Since your visit here four months ago, Oman continues to be concerned with regional issues, especially events in Iraq and Iran, participated in the June Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) meeting in Washington, D.C., and was struck by a m [...] |
2007-09-11 12:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER MARR MASS MNUC MOPS OVIP KNNP |
| 07MUSCAT879 |
LABOR SENDING COUNTRIES DISCUSS TIP [...] (SBU) Summary: During a recent luncheon hosted by the Ambassador, chiefs of mission (COM) from trafficking source country embassies in Oman asked for U.S. assistance in pushing the Omani government to improve conditions for foreign workers by: enforcing existing labor and immigration laws; ins [...] |
2007-09-12 12:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 07MUSCAT881 |
A RARE RE-SHUFFLING OF OMANI MINISTERS [...] (C) On September 9, the Omani government announced that Sultan Qaboos had issued Royal Decrees re-shuffling government ministers and splitting off ministerial portfolios to create two new ministries. In accordance with standard Omani practice, no official explanations were given for the re-s [...] |
2007-09-12 13:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR MU |
| 07MUSCAT894 |
MEDIA REACTION: 9/11 COVERAGE, AMBASSADOR TIP INTERVIEW, [...] SUMMARY: All dailies carry Ambassador's 9/11 message; privately-owned "Al-Watan" and "Oman Tribune" interview Ambassador about Trafficking in Persons; in an editorial about 9/11, "Al-Watan" condemns the "beastly acts" of the American army that was unable to protect Americans despite consuming [...] |
2007-09-18 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 07MUSCAT900 |
RESPONSE TO 100% SCANNING REQUIREMENT [...] (SBU) Summary: Contacts at Port of Salalah expressed concern that new scanning requirements for maritime cargo under the USG's 9/11 Act will negatively affect trade at the port. They mentioned specifically that scanning 100% of U.S.-bound cargo for radioactive material and components of weapo [...] |
2007-09-19 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER MU |
| 07MUSCAT908 |
REQUESTING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR UN APPEALS FOR IRAQ: [...] No summary [...] |
2007-09-22 12:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM PREF IZ MU |
| 07MUSCAT915 |
ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. FALLON MEETINGS WITH OMANI [...] (C) Admiral Fallon, USCENTCOM Commander, met with Lieutenant General (LTG) Ahmed bin Harith Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces (COSSAF) and with Minister Responsible for Defense Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi on 19 September in Muscat. Both the COSSAF and [...] |
2007-09-29 05:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MOPS IR IZ MU |
| 07MUSCAT916 |
MEDIA REACTION: TIP INTERVIEW, HUMAN RIGHTS AS "AMERICAN [...] SUMMARY: "Times of Oman" and "Al-Shabiba" highlight G/TIP Ambassador Mark Lagon's interview on trafficking; "Al-Watan" criticizes Ambassador Grappo's defense of the Trafficking in Persons report and calls the report part of "American Blackmail." Other "Al-Watan" editorials criticize human ri [...] |
2007-09-29 06:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 07MUSCAT919 |
ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. FALLON MEETING WITH OMANI [...] (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi discussed both Iraq and Iran during a September 19 meeting with CENTCOM Commander Admiral William J. Fallon. Bin Alawi noted the many challenges facing efforts to stabilize Iraq, including competing factions and militia groups, but [...] |
2007-09-29 07:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IR IZ MU |
| 07MUSCAT920 |
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ASSURE AMBASSADOR LAGON OF [...] (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Mark Lagon, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP), visited Muscat on September 22 to engage Omanis on trafficking and encourage the government to execute measures in the USG's anti-TIP action plan for Oman. Top officials in the Roy [...] |
2007-09-29 07:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 07MUSCAT931 |
C-NE7-00774: OMAN ELECTION UPDATE [...] (C) A total of 632 candidates are competing in the October 27 elections for the Majlis al-Shura. Contacts indicate that only one of the twenty female candidates stands a good chance of being elected. Final voter registration figures show a substantial increase over corresponding numbers for [...] |
2007-10-03 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV KDEM KMPI KWMN MU |
| 07MUSCAT932 |
C-NE7-00774: OMAN ELECTION UPDATE [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-03 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV KDEM KMPI KWMN MU |
| 07MUSCAT933 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO G8-BMENA FORUM REQUEST [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-03 12:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KMPI KDEM MU |
| 07MUSCAT938 |
MICROSOFT SETTLES WITH OMANI SOFTWARE PIRATES [...] (U) On October 7, Econoff discussed Microsoft's conclusion of an out-of-court settlement with four Omani companies engaged in software piracy with Jawad al-Redha, Microsoft's Gulf Anti-Piracy Manager and Co-Chair of the Business Software Alliance. Redha noted that the settlement was the produ [...] |
2007-10-08 06:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR MU |
| 07MUSCAT939 |
OBSTACLES HINDER SALALAH FREE ZONE GROWTH [...] (SBU) Economic projects continue to emerge at the Salalah Free Zone, where several anchor companies are in the process of establishing operations. Obstacles remain in terms of energy availability and infrastructure suitability, however, which might stunt the free zone's further growth. A prop [...] |
2007-10-08 06:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV MU |
| 07MUSCAT942 |
OMAN AIR TO ADD DREAMLINERS TO FLEET [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-09 06:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP EAIR ECON MU |
| 07MUSCAT948 |
2007 RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS REPORT ELICITS POSITIVE [...] (SBU) Officials at the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA) characterized the 2007 International Religious Freedoms Report (IRFR) as a fair assessment of religious freedom in Oman and welcomed continued dialogue with the USG on this issue. Post has identified a number of opport [...] |
2007-10-10 10:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL OPRC KIRF KPAO MU |
| 07MUSCAT949 |
UPDATED DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN [...] (C) As reported ref B, Oman represents a challenging environment for U.S. efforts to directly promote democracy. Civil society is under-developed and the registration of new non-governmental organizations and associations (which are limited in their areas of activity) can literally take years. [...] |
2007-10-10 10:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KMPI KWMN PGOV PREL MU |
| 07MUSCAT952 |
OMAN AGREES TO PROPOSED DATE FOR GULF SECURITY [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-10 12:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PINS PREL MU |
| 07MUSCAT953 |
OMAN OPEN TO MEETING IN THE HAGUE ON CWC HOST [...] (C) Pol-Econ Chief met on October 10 with Abdullah al-Riyami, Deputy Director of the Department of International Affairs at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to deliver ref A information and inquire on the status of the bilateral host country agreement (HCA) concerning the conduct of cha [...] |
2007-10-10 13:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KTIA CWC MU |
| 07MUSCAT97 |
OMAN 2007 INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT [...] Per reftel request, Embassy submits the following Investment Climate Statement for 2007. 2. Begin text of Investment Climate Statement: Economic Overview Oman's economy is based primarily on petroleum and natural gas, which are expected to account for 79% of the government's revenue [...] |
2007-01-30 13:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB ENRG KTDB OPIC PGOV USTR |
| 07MUSCAT970 |
UNIONS INCREASING IN NUMBER BUT LACKING IN STRENGTH [...] (C) Summary: The number of labor unions in Oman increased substantially during the second and third quarters of 2007. Contacts claim, however, that despite a few isolated examples, unions remain weak and continue to lack effective organization or leadership. The General Federation of Oman's L [...] |
2007-10-22 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 07MUSCAT972 |
OMAN GRAPPLES WITH TELECOM LIBERALIZATION [...] (SBU) The Omani government is wrestling with the issue of telecommunications liberalization in the wake of the FTA implementation process and a recent managerial shakeup at Omantel, the majority government-owned fixed line monopoly. The changes at Omantel signify the government's willingness t [...] |
2007-10-22 13:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD ECPS MU |
| 07MUSCAT977 |
OMANI RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO MNF-I COALITION [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-23 12:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS OTRA IZ MU |
| 07MUSCAT978 |
MINISTER REAFFIRMS ADHERENCE TO MARKET PRINCIPLES [...] (U) On October 7, Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan addressed the Oman Journalists' Association (OJA) in the midst of calls from the public for government action to halt general price increases, especially with regard to housing and food. Aside from the recent Council of M [...] |
2007-10-23 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN MU |
| 07MUSCAT979 |
C-NE7-00774: FINAL ELECTION PUSH IN OMAN AS VOTING [...] (C) Omanis in 10 countries outside Oman voted without incident on October 20 for their representatives in the Majlis al-Shura. The government continues to assert that all will be ready for national elections inside Oman on October 27 and that various safeguards (e.g. secure voting forms and [...] |
2007-10-23 12:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV KDEM KMPI KPAO KWMN MU |
| 07MUSCAT982 |
COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR GULF SECURITY [...] Embassy Muscat grants country clearance to the Gulf Security Dialogue Team to travel to Muscat on October 30, 2007 for Gulf Security Dialogue meetings. Please note action items in paragraphs five and eight. 2. Cellular Telephones: For security reasons, all visitors are required to possess [...] |
2007-10-24 11:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA AMGT MU |
| 07MUSCAT984 |
SCENESETTER FOR U.S.-OMAN GULF SECURITY DIALOGUE [...] (U) Embassy Muscat warmly welcomes Ambassador Mull and the U.S. delegation to the next round of the U.S.-Oman Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) in Muscat. Post expects that the meeting will increase understanding and strengthen bilateral cooperation on mutual security issues facing the Gulf region [...] |
2007-10-24 12:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PREL PTER MASS KNNP MU |
| 07MUSCAT989 |
ARAB DONORS CONFERENCE ON DARFUR: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2007-10-28 12:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPKO SU MU |
| 07MUSCAT992 |
FEW SURPRISES IN OMAN'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS [...] (C) Thanks in part to a relentless government effort to get out the vote, a larger than expected 62.7% of registered Omani voters reportedly cast ballots in the October 27 Majlis al-Shura elections. According to the results of a speedy electronic vote count, newcomers won 46 of the 84 seats in [...] |
2007-10-29 12:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV KDEM KMPI KPAO KWMN MU |
| 07MUSCAT996 |
MEDIA REACTION: OMAN'S MAJLIS ELECTIONS [...] SUMMARY: All Omani dailies carry prominent features and articles on elections for the sixth round of the Majlis Ash-Shura (84-member lower house of parliament). "Oman" regrets that no women were elected but anticipates their return in the near future. "Al-Watan" hails the "positive signs" in [...] |
2007-10-30 06:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT100 |
2008 OMAN INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT: PART II [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-05 13:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EINV EFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV USTR OPIC MU |
| 08MUSCAT102 |
SCENESETTER FOR AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF T. [...] (C) General Moseley: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome your return to Oman. We have asked for meetings with the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman and Mohammed al-Rasbi, Under Secretary for Defense Affairs (Deputy Minister equivalent). Al-Rasbi has been actively engaged in the Share [...] |
2008-02-06 08:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER KNNP MARR MASS MNUC MOPS OVIP |
| 08MUSCAT104 |
MEDIA REACTION: GAZA UNDER TWO SEIGES; OMAN JOURNALIST [...] SUMMARY: The editorial in private Arabic daily "Al Zaman" commented that Fatah leader Abbas is pressuring Hamas for a truce. Private youth-oriented Arabic daily "Al Shabiba" praised an Omani journalist working for Al Hurra TV, saying that Omani journalists can demonstrate their true talent in f [...] |
2008-02-06 11:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT106 |
MINISTER OF MANPOWER HIGHLIGHTS ANTI-TIP EFFORTS [...] (SBU) Summary: During a February 4 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali Al Juma detailed his Ministry's anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) measures, including: publishing a brochure for newly-arrived foreign workers to educate them about their rights; issuing new occu [...] |
2008-02-06 12:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT107 |
OMANI SUPPORT FOR LEBANON [...] (C) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on February 6 to Humeid al-Ma'ani, Office Director for the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ma'ani responded that the government of Oman appreciated the "very difficult" situation in Lebanon and would seriously consider our re [...] |
2008-02-07 14:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EFIN LU MU |
| 08MUSCAT119 |
OMAN'S NEW CENTRAL PRISON AND DETENTION CENTER [...] (SBU) Summary: Emboffs recently visited the Royal Oman Police's (ROP) new central prison and detention complex in the state of Samayl, located in Oman's interior. While most of the complex is still under construction, emboffs received a tour of the completed detention center for illegal worke [...] |
2008-02-10 11:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT120 |
MINISTRY REAFFIRMS OMAN AS AVIAN INFLUENZA-FREE [...] (U) On January 29, Amman ESTH Regional Officer and POLE Assistant received an update on Oman's surveillance and detection of avian influenza (AI) from Dr. Salah al-Awaidy, Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control (DCDSC), Ministry of Health. Awaidy stressed [...] |
2008-02-10 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV KFLU PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT121 |
SCENESETTER FOR CENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL WILLIAM [...] (C) Admiral Fallon: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome your return to Oman. We have asked for a meeting with Sultan Qaboos, who will appreciate hearing your perspective on events in the region. General Moseley visits the week prior to your arrival and will meet with the Commander of the Roy [...] |
2008-02-10 14:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER KNNP MARR MASS MNUC MOPS OVIP |
| 08MUSCAT122 |
DEVELOPMENT, CITES TOP CONCERNS FOR OMAN'S [...] (U) Summary: Oman's rapid development plans and its ability to effectively implement the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) topped the list of concerns for environmental stakeholders during Amman ESTH Officer's January 26-29 visit to Muscat. Omani officials we [...] |
2008-02-11 06:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV ETRD EAID PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT123 |
SULTAN UNVEILS PRICE STABILIZATION PACKAGE [...] (U) On February 9, the Sultan announced a series of measures aimed at easing popular discontent over the rising cost of living and higher consumer prices. Most importantly, the Sultan mandated an increase in public sector salaries based on grade status. Those at the bottom of the pay scale w [...] |
2008-02-11 12:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT128 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO ENERGY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-12 11:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EPET ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT129 |
MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI BLOCKADE OF GAZA [...] SUMMARY: The editorials in private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" and government-owned "Oman" commented on the need to save Palestinians from Israeli attacks on the basis of moral and legal concerns and human rights. END SUMMARY. ------------------------ MORAL AND LEGAL COLLAPSE ------------------ [...] |
2008-02-12 13:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT130 |
LOBBYING FOR KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-12 13:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK YI MU |
| 08MUSCAT138 |
PROSTITUTION IN OMAN [...] (C) Summary: Contacts suggest that prostitution, particularly among women working in massage parlors and dance clubs, is a growing problem in Oman. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has arrested and deported women for engaging in prostitution, but the government has not prosecuted to date any alleg [...] |
2008-02-17 04:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT144 |
MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGES TELECOM AS MAJOR STICKING [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (C) On February 16, the Ambassador met with Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan to urge rapid implementation of the U.S-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Maqbool agreed that the implementation phase has "taken a lon [...] |
2008-02-18 10:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT145 |
MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL DENIES PEACE; ISRAEL'S DIPLOMATIC [...] SUMMARY: Editorials in government-owned "Oman" called for Palestinian unity and a more active Arab role in the peace process. "Oman" also called on Lebanon's political parties to stop inciting Lebanese youth to violence. Private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" called on Palestinians and other Arabs to [...] |
2008-02-18 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT148 |
MINISTER: "PRESSURE" LED TO PRICE STABILIZATION [...] (C) On February 16, the Ambassador raised the Sultan's price stabilization initiatives (reftel) with Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan. Maqbool noted that the government had been "under a lot of pressure" to take action against the rising level of inflation, which was repo [...] |
2008-02-19 07:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT15 |
OMAN'S 2008 BUDGET: MORE OF EVERYTHING [...] (SBU) Oman's 2008 budget, unveiled by the Minister of National Economy on the first of the year, once again calls for increased expenditures, in anticipation of higher revenues, to boost energy production and to diversify the Sultanate's economy. The government projects a deficit for 2008; ho [...] |
2008-01-06 11:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV PGOV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT150 |
UN SPONSORS AML/CTF WORKSHOP IN MUSCAT [...] (SBU) On February 19, Econoff discussed a recent two-day seminar on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) with Mahran Yarub al-Barwani, Director of Anti Money Laundering, Central Bank of Oman. Barwani noted that the event, sponsored by the Omani National Committee f [...] |
2008-02-20 10:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PTER MU |
| 08MUSCAT151 |
OMAN DELIVERY OF DFSA NOTIFICATION [...] No summary [...] |
2008-02-20 10:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KNNP MNUC MU |
| 08MUSCAT152 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO SPECIAL 301 REVIEW [...] (SBU) The Omani government continues to take steps to protect intellectual property, evidenced both by its revisions to its IPR regime in advance of implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and its collaborative work with the USG and the private sector. Given these efforts, [...] |
2008-02-20 10:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON KIPR ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT153 |
EXPATRIATE LABOR RETAINS SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE IN [...] (SBU) Summary: The number of expatriate workers in Oman grew in 2007, particularly among low and semi-skilled workers. Oman continues to rely on India for the bulk of its private sector workforce, but increasingly is looking to other countries as sources for labor. Contacts suggest that Oman [...] |
2008-02-20 11:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT154 |
OMAN UNDECIDED ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION [...] (C) Oman is not yet prepared to announce a decision on Kosovo independence, according to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. In a February 20 phone call with the minister, the Ambassador urged Oman to act quickly to recognize Kosovo's independence. Drawing on guidance [...] |
2008-02-20 12:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNMIK UN YI KV MU |
| 08MUSCAT156 |
IRANIAN PUSH TO RAISE PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL [...] (S) As evidenced by a series of recent visits, media interviews and a first-time commercial exposition, Iran appears to be making a concerted effort to raise its profile, and currently very limited business presence, in Oman. While Omani interest in Iranian gas could expand cooperation betw [...] |
2008-02-20 13:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PREL ECON IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT160 |
GOVERNMENT USING MEDIA TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT TIP [...] (SBU) Over the past few months, Oman's public and private press has run a number of articles about trafficking in persons (TIP) in which government officials have publicly acknowledged TIP and their actions to combat it. On February 16, the government-owned, Arabic-language daily "Oman" carri [...] |
2008-02-24 12:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT162 |
REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT TO THE 2000 U.S.-OMAN ACCESS [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4. 2. (C) The Port of Sohar is the only commercial port in Oman with deepwater berths capable of accommodating an aircraft carrier. It is located 150 miles northwest of Muscat and 90 miles west by northwest from al-Musanah airbase, the new Ro [...] |
2008-02-25 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MOPS KTIA MU |
| 08MUSCAT169 |
OMANI WOMEN SPEAK OUT ON U.S. POLICIES AND OTHER [...] (C) A group of Omani women in a small-group discussion with the Ambassador shared their concern over the U.S. visa issuance process and misperceptions among Americans about the Middle East. While disagreeing with some U.S. policies, the women stressed their positive views about the American p [...] |
2008-02-27 11:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM KMPI KPAO KWMN CVIS MU |
| 08MUSCAT171 |
GENERAL MOSELEY'S FEBRUARY 14 MEETINGS WITH OMANI [...] (C) General T. Michael Moseley, United States Air Force Chief of Staff, met separately on February 14 with Mohammed Al-Rasbi, Under-Secretary for Defense Affairs, and with Air Vice Marshall Yahya bin Rashid al-Juma'a, Commander Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), to discuss the merits of Shared Ea [...] |
2008-02-27 12:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL MASS MOPS IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT173 |
MEDIA REACTION: DEMOCRATS ABANDON IRAQ; MOUSSA POSTPONEMENT [...] SUMMARY: Editorials in government-owned "Oman" said that America has failed to keep its promise to Iraq, evident by escalating violence and pursuit of an exit strategy. Private "Al Watan" described the challenges facing Amr Moussa in bringing the different parties closer. It also hailed Presid [...] |
2008-02-27 13:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT174 |
ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. FALLON'S MEETING WITH SULTAN [...] (C) Sultan Qaboos discussed both domestic and regional issues during his February 19 meeting with Admiral William J. Fallon, CENTCOM Commander. On the domestic front, the Sultan described his desire to empower the government to be more responsive to citizen concerns. Seeking to strengthen th [...] |
2008-03-01 05:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER ENRG KWMN IR IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT176 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO FISCAL TRANSPARENCY REPORT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-01 12:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT18 |
OMAN CONTINUES TO COURT ASIA [...] (U) Over the course of 2007, the Omani government has made significant efforts to strengthen its ties with its Asian trading partners. As an indication of its continuing courtship with the region, Oman recently sent a trade delegation, led by its Deputy Prime Minister, to Singapore and India [...] |
2008-01-06 13:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT180 |
DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL: [...] (C) Pointing to Lebanon as the critical issue, Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi offered a gloomy forecast for the Arab League (AL) foreign ministers meeting scheduled later this week in Cairo and potentially for the AL Summit later this month. The Ambassador ca [...] |
2008-03-02 11:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE SY KV AL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT181 |
OMANI VIEWS ON LATEST IAEA BRIEFING ON IRAN [...] (S) On March 2, the Ambassador conveyed U.S. views on the IAEA Secretariat's February 25 briefing on Iran, as described reftel, to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. The Ambassador also left reftel non-paper with the Minister. Bin Alawi listened closely, but did not ad [...] |
2008-03-02 13:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM KNNP MNUC IAEA IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT183 |
TENDER BOARD REITERATES COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS [...] On February 25, POLE Assistant attended a presentation by Zahir al-Rashidi, Oman Tender Board Quantity Survey Specialist, concerning the tendering process and its requirements for the pre- and post- tendering phases. With regards to pre-tendering, Rashidi stated that the Tender Board works wi [...] |
2008-03-03 06:13:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT184 |
EIGHTH ANNUAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT [...] (SBU) Summary: Oman has taken a number of actions to address trafficking in persons (TIP) since the release of last year's report. The government completed drafting a comprehensive anti-TIP law, which will establish a national committee to combat TIP. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) published [...] |
2008-03-03 09:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF KCRM KWMN KFRD SMIG ASEC ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT187 |
NEW FOREIGN FIRMS SEEK FOOTHOLDS IN OMAN [...] (C) According to a key project development banker in Oman, new foreign firms, including those from Iran and China, are attempting to gain a foothold in Oman amidst the current construction boom. So far, entry has not been easy, in spite of Oman's generally clean tender process. Competence, [...] |
2008-03-03 12:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD PREL IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT188 |
OMANI TOURISM PROJECTS GAIN MOMENTUM [...] (C) OMRAN, the government's tourism investment company, continues to play a crucial role in the planning of several prominent, integrated resort complexes throughout the Sultanate. While most projects are located in Muscat, OMRAN's efforts will bring the potential economic benefits of the tou [...] |
2008-03-03 12:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT190 |
LEGAL ISSUES IMPEDE GLOBE PROGRESS IN OMAN [...] (U) On March 1, GLOBE Deputy Director Teresa Kennedy, GLOBE Desk Officer Russanne Low, and Econoff met with Ministry of Education officials Amal Abdullah Mohamed al-Busaidia, Director General of Curricula, Zuwaina Saleh al-Maskaria, Deputy Director General of Curricula, and Sana Sabeel al-Belu [...] |
2008-03-04 07:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | TSPL KGLB PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT195 |
OMAN MEDIA CALLS FOR ARAB (AND PALESTINIAN) UNITY [...] In response to the recent escalation of conflict in Gaza, Omani media outlets have called for renewed Arab unity in support of the Palestinians. Under the March 2 headline, "So that Silence Is Not Consent," private Arabic-language daily "al-Watan" urged uniform condemnation not only of Israeli [...] |
2008-03-05 13:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER KPAL PBTS KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT196 |
SOLIDARITY WITH KOSOVO AT OIC SUMMIT: OMAN [...] (C) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on March 5 to Humaid al-Ma'ani, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. Al-Ma'ani replied that Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi, who would lead Oman's delegation to the OIC [...] |
2008-03-05 14:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNMIK PGOV KV MU |
| 08MUSCAT197 |
UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1803: OMANI RESPONSE [...] (C) Pol-Econ Chief relayed reftel points on March 5 to Humaid al-Ma'ani, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. A copy of UN Security Council Resolution 1803 (including annexes) and the P5 plus 1 Ministers' Statement was delivered to th [...] |
2008-03-05 14:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT198 |
SCENESETTER FOR VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY'S VISIT TO [...] (C) Mr. Vice President: Embassy Muscat and my wife and I warmly welcome you and Mrs. Cheney back to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the Middle East -- the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic" -- Oman remains a strong and trusted U.S. ally. The Sultan will be please [...] |
2008-03-05 15:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PHUM PGOV PREL PTER KDEM KNNP KWMN MASS |
| 08MUSCAT200 |
GAS SHORTAGE REMAINS TOP CONCERN OF OMANI MINISTRY [...] (C) The Omani government continues to discuss its gas supply needs with Iran and Qatar, though it is optimistic that recent domestic exploration efforts will reduce its projected dependence on imports. The government is equally hopeful that its investment in enhanced oil recovery techniques w [...] |
2008-03-09 12:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL MU IR |
| 08MUSCAT205 |
FOREIGN INVESTMENT UP IN OMAN [...] (U) On March 3, Minister of National Economy Ahmed bin Abdul Nabi Macki released inward foreign investment figures for 2006. Total gross foreign investment in Oman reached 5.99 billion Omani rials (USD 15.58 billion) in 2006, a 1.99 billion rial (USD 5.17 billion) increase from the 4 billion [...] |
2008-03-11 12:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT206 |
CHANGE IN DOD'S MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT POST [...] U.S. Embassy Muscat appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the dialogue supporting the Defense Department's SDO/DATT initiative. Post agrees with the initiative, believing the directive institutionalizes arrangements that have informally developed in many embassies. 2. U.S. Embassy [...] |
2008-03-12 06:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT ABLD AFIN APER ASEC ODIP |
| 08MUSCAT207 |
OMANI MINISTRY REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE [...] This is an action request for USDA FAS. Please see paragraph 4. 2. On February 17, the Ministry of Agriculture delivered an official note to Embassy Muscat thanking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for sponsoring the "Assessments of the Risks of Plant Diseases" workshop in 2007. In the [...] |
2008-03-12 07:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAGR ECON PREL KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT208 |
UNIONS PLANNING FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) Summary: Oman's unions are expected to form a General Federation and participate in direct elections for national leadership in April 2008. The elected federation will replace a national worker representative body appointed by the government in 2005 before employee unions were legalized [...] |
2008-03-12 07:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT223 |
MORE PESSIMISM FROM OMANI FM ON UPCOMING ARAB [...] (C) Summary: Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi reiterated his previous pessimistic forecast (ref A) for next week's Arab League (AL) Summit in Damascus. Prospects for positive development on Lebanon and Israel-Palestine were "very modest," although bin Alawi in [...] |
2008-03-19 12:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT224 |
OMAN DEFERS DECISION ON RECOGNIZING KOSOVO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-03-19 12:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK YI KV MU |
| 08MUSCAT228 |
OMAN TB RATE LOW [...] On March 19, Econoff discussed Oman's plans for World TB Day with Salah al-Awaidy, Director of Infectious Disease Surveillance, Ministry of Health. Awaidy noted that Oman's policy in combating TB was closely associated with the goal of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), adopted almost 10 yea [...] |
2008-03-19 12:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT235 |
SULTAN'S ADVISOR SPEAKS ON IRAN [...] (C) Iran is taking advantage of America's misperceived weakness in the region in order to court the Arab street and fill the resulting power vacuum in the region, according to Special Advisor to the Sultan for Cultural Affairs, Abdul 'Aziz al-Rowas. In a meeting with the Ambassador March 25, [...] |
2008-03-26 11:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EFIN IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT237 |
SCENESETTER FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES' VISIT TO [...] (C) Secretary Gates: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region -- the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic" -- the Sultanate remains a strong and trusted U.S. partner. We have requested an audience with Sultan Qaboos bin Sa [...] |
2008-03-26 13:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PGOV PREL PTER KNNP MASS MNUC MOPS ECON |
| 08MUSCAT245 |
APPEAL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASSIST IRAQ REFUGEES: [...] (U) Post delivered reftel information via diplomatic note on March 30 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urging the government of Oman to provide humanitarian assistance for Iraqi refugees. Pol/Econ Chief also highlighted the pressing need for such assistance to Humaid al-Ma'ani, Office Direc [...] |
2008-03-30 11:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT251 |
OMAN REITERATES COMMITMENT TO ELIMINATE OUTDATED [...] (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 8. ------- Summary ------- 2. (U) Omani officials reiterated their commitment to eliminate the use of outdated boycott language during meetings with officials from the Department of Commerce's (DOC) Anti-boycott Compliance Office. The [...] |
2008-04-01 09:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT254 |
LABOR SHORTAGES, RISING WAGES [...] (SBU) Summary: Demand for labor in Oman's booming construction and service sectors exceeds supply, and companies increasingly are raising wages to recruit and retain employees. Workers are taking advantage of the market by frequently switching employers to increase their salaries and other co [...] |
2008-04-02 13:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PHUM ECON ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT255 |
OMANI MINISTER REAFFIRMS AMBITIOUS TOURISM PLANS [...] (C) Oman's Minister of Tourism affirmed that the Sultanate's ambitious tourism development plans remain on track, despite the rapid escalation of construction and labor costs. Completion of several integrated tourism projects along greater Muscat's waterfront, along with the construction of a [...] |
2008-04-02 13:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV MU |
| 08MUSCAT256 |
AN AL-SAID LOSES HIS DAY IN COURT [...] (C) An investment group reportedly controlled by a prominent member of Oman's ruling family failed to persuade a Muscat court to remove a Bahraini investor from the multi-billion dollar Blue City real estate venture. The episode suggests that the Sultanate sees preserving its reputation for j [...] |
2008-04-02 13:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL ECON EINV PINR MU |
| 08MUSCAT262 |
OMAN REVEALS LOW-PROFILE INITIATIVE ON [...] (C) Summary: Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi told me that he has begun a "low-profile" effort to bring the Syrians and Lebanese together and help resolve the Lebanese leadership stalemate. The Omani effort, reportedly in cooperation with Qatar, is focused on g [...] |
2008-04-07 12:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE MU |
| 08MUSCAT263 |
OMANI TELECOM AUTHORITY REQUESTS WRITTEN COMMENTS [...] (U) This is an Action Request; please see paragraph 5. 2. (SBU) On March 31, Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Engineer Naashiah al-Kharusi, Committee Member, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). In particular, Econoff emphasized that the telecommunications liberalization stu [...] |
2008-04-07 12:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECPS ETRD ECON EINT USTR MU |
| 08MUSCAT264 |
OMAN ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR INCREASED ENGAGEMENT [...] (C) Ambassador delivered ref A and B demarches on April 6 to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. Regarding inaction on Iraq at the recent Arab League summit in Damascus, bin Alawi cast some of the blame on the Iraqi delegation, asserting that Iraqi Vice President Adel Abd [...] |
2008-04-07 12:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT265 |
OMAN TEXTILES INDUSTRY LOOKS TO FTA FOR REBOUND [...] (U) Oman's garment and textiles industry continues to shrink in the post-quota era, but the pending implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) holds out the promise of a modest sector revival in the eyes of Omani government officials and remaining private firms. End Summary. [...] |
2008-04-07 13:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD ECON KTEX MU |
| 08MUSCAT266 |
DELIVERY OF FINCEN ADVISORY ON IRANIAN BANKING [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-07 13:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD EINV KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL |
| 08MUSCAT267 |
OMAN MOVING TOWARD FIU IMPLEMENTATION [...] (SBU) On April 5, FINCEN Middle East Director Ahmed el-Bashari and Econoff met with Lt. Colonel Mohsin Awad al-Muqaddam, Director of the Financial Crimes Department, Royal Oman Police (ROP), to review Oman's progress in formally establishing a financial intelligence unit (FIU). Muqaddam noted [...] |
2008-04-07 13:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL PTER MU |
| 08MUSCAT269 |
OMAN CONSIDERING CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE [...] (SBU) Judd Swift, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs in the Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy (DoE), and Pol-Econ Chief met on March 23 with Mohammed al-Mahrouqi, Chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water, to discuss Oman's future power generatio [...] |
2008-04-08 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ENRG ECON EINV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT270 |
OMANI HEALTH OFFICIAL CLARIFIES MEDIA REPORTS ON [...] On April 6, the Arabic-language daily "Al Watan" and its sister English-language "Oman Tribune" ran front page news articles reporting that the Directorate General of Health Supervision and Sewage, under the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, was investigating a report is [...] |
2008-04-09 07:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETRD EAGR SOCI TBIO MU |
| 08MUSCAT273 |
SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL SCHWARTZ'S VISIT TO OMAN [...] (C) General Schwartz: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region -- the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic" -- the Sultanate remains a strong and trusted U.S. partner. We have requested meetings with Air Vice Marshal Yahya [...] |
2008-04-09 12:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PGOV PREL PTER KNNP MASS MNUC MOPS ECON |
| 08MUSCAT274 |
OMAN BOOSTS PENSIONS [...] (U) As part of the government's overall response to public grumbling over the rising cost of living, Sultan Qaboos ordered an increase in pension rates for government retirees, effective from the end of March 2008. Following a similar tiered format for the recent public sector wage hike (reft [...] |
2008-04-12 04:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT278 |
IMPLEMENTING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN USCRS 1737, [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-14 12:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC KNNP UNSC IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT281 |
Oman Media Reaction: Gaza Blockade; Anniversary of Iraqi [...] SUMMARY: State daily "Oman" continues to focus on Israel's blockade of Gaza and on Palestinian suffering, calling for dialogue between Hamas and Fatah. It also condemned not only the Israeli collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, but also condemned the silence of the internationa [...] |
2008-04-15 10:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT283 |
MUSCAT 2008 REQUEST FOR SCIENCE FELLOW [...] To build on the past success of the Embassy Science Fellows Program in Muscat, Embassy requests a Science Fellow for FY 2009 in either medical sciences (with an emphasis on diabetes) or agricultural diseases ("dabas," date palm insect). Embassy will provide the Fellow with administrative sup [...] |
2008-04-15 13:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT AMPR KSCA OTRA SENV EAGR TBIO MU |
| 08MUSCAT285 |
OMAN PROPOSES NEW IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES TO [...] (C) According to diplomats at the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, the government of Oman has agreed to strengthen immigration procedures along its border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop the possible trafficking of housemaids into Oman (refs A & B). Under the new procedures, Royal Oma [...] |
2008-04-16 05:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT286 |
ATTORNEY GENERAL COMMENTS ON EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEX [...] (C) Summary: In a recent meeting with the Ambassador, Omani Attorney General Hussain Ali Zaher al-Helali provided several concrete examples of government prosecution of cases of trafficking in persons (TIP) for sexual exploitation. He expressed his continued willingness to cooperate with the [...] |
2008-04-16 05:44:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT289 |
OMAN REMAINS VIGILANT ON IRANIAN BANKING ACTIVITIES [...] (C) On April 15, the Ambassador met with Central Bank of Oman (CBO) Executive President Hamoud Sangour al-Zadjali to urge vigilance on the increasingly deceptive practices used by Iranian financial institutions to circumvent UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and Financial Action Task Fo [...] |
2008-04-16 13:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PTER IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT292 |
A WINDOW INTO CRIME IN OMAN - 2007 STATISTICS FROM [...] (C) Summary: Attorney General Hussain Ali Zaher al-Helali recently provided the Ambassador a copy of the Office of Public Prosecution's raw data crime report from 2007. The statistics offer rare insight into the nature of crime in Oman, including categories and numbers of violent crimes as w [...] |
2008-04-20 08:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL PHUM ASEC KCRM MU |
| 08MUSCAT293 |
OMAN CENTRAL BANK REMAINS FIRM ON DOLLAR PEG [...] (C) Oman's Central Bank chief reiterated his government's commitment to maintaining its currency peg to the dollar at the current rate of exchange, in spite of official statistics showing that inflation had exceeded 10% in February. He explained that a revaluation would not temper inflation in [...] |
2008-04-20 08:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT295 |
OMANI COMMERCE MINISTER TARGETS JUNE FOR FTA [...] (C) On April 17, the Ambassador discussed the status of pending U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) action items with Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan. The Ambassador urged that, given the current debate in Washington over free trade, Oman quickly complete work on all out [...] |
2008-04-21 09:22:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT296 |
OMANI HEALTH MINISTER: AIDS CASES UNDER CONTROL [...] (C) The Ministry of Health recently announced to the media that as a result of its awareness efforts, the government had controlled the spread of HIV. While describing the country as low risk, the Ministry is nevertheless focusing on promoting HIV awareness among the young, as well as monitor [...] |
2008-04-21 09:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV TBIO SOCI AMED MU |
| 08MUSCAT297 |
SENIOR OMANI DELEGATION VISIT TO TEHRAN [...] (U) A delegation of Omani officials, led by Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmud al-Sa'id, arrived in Tehran on April 20 for a three-day official visit to Iran. According to the Oman News Agency, the delegation included Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al-Sa'id (Minister of Heritage and Cultu [...] |
2008-04-21 13:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT298 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN FACTS, IRAQI REALITY AND [...] SUMMARY: private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" continues to opine on the conundrum of Israeli settlement expansion even as its leaders negotiate. State Arabic daily "Oman" wrote that the only solution to the Iraq dilemma is that its people unify to end sectarianism and end American presence there. [...] |
2008-04-22 03:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT3 |
SCENESETTER FOR CODEL PRICE'S VISIT TO OMAN [...] (SBU) Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you and your delegation to Oman. We look forward to your arrival on January 7 to tour the Port of Salalah and discuss international trade security in the context of our overall bilateral relationship with Oman. In order to fulfill the objectives of y [...] |
2008-01-02 12:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OREP PGOV PREL PTER MU |
| 08MUSCAT300 |
INCREASING WAGES IN EMBASSY MUSCAT'S SERVICE [...] (SBU) Summary: With the Department's support, Embassy Muscat is committed to ensuring that all expatriates under contract to perform cleaning and landscaping services at the Embassy receive at least the prevailing minimum wage for Omani citizens (ref A). The lack of a wage floor in Oman (ther [...] |
2008-04-22 12:12:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT PHUM PREL ELAB SMIG MU |
| 08MUSCAT303 |
OMAN REMAINS IN THE HUNT FOR GAS [...] (SBU) On April 22, Omani media outlets carried front-page stories on the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the "joint development" of the Kish gas field with Iran and the exporting of Iranian gas to Oman. The MoU was reportedly signed by the Iranian Deputy Minister of Oi [...] |
2008-04-23 08:07:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ENRG EPET IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT304 |
FEMALE CANDIDATES ANALYZE 2007 ELECTORAL LOSSES [...] (C) Summary: Six months after Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections, contacts continue to offer various reasons why women failed to win a seat in Oman's directly-elected advisory body. While many chalk up women's electoral losses to inexperience and poor campaigning, others point to a [...] |
2008-04-23 08:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KMPI KWMN MU |
| 08MUSCAT309 |
SULTAN QABOOS PROMISES TO INVESTIGATE FTA TELECOM [...] (C) In his meeting with Sultan Qaboos on Wednesday, April 23 (see septel), the Ambassador conveyed USG concern with Oman's apparent approach to telecom licensing, pointing out that Oman's actions may be in conflict with both its FTA and WTO obligations. 2. (C) As also communicated in US [...] |
2008-04-25 07:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ECPS PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT310 |
IMPACT OF RISING FOOD/COMMODITY PRICES - OMAN [...] (SBU) The Omani government is grappling with soaring inflation, with the price of some food products reportedly rising by as much as 47% over the past year. Responding to public pressure, the government has augmented public sector wages, capped rental increases, and warned wholesalers about h [...] |
2008-04-26 07:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV EAGR EAID ECON ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT313 |
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER READOUT ON TRIP TO TEHRAN [...] (C) Summary: Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, recently returned from Iran, downplayed Iranian press reports of three bilateral agreements signed during the visit of a senior Omani delegation to Tehran. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the joint development of the Kish [...] |
2008-04-26 12:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ENRG IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT317 |
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER "IMPRESSED" BY BRIEFING [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on April 24 covering a number of subjects (septels), Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi briefly shared his impressions of his discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni in Qatar earlier in the month during the Doha Forum on [...] |
2008-04-27 07:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL MU |
| 08MUSCAT32 |
ASSISTANCE REQUEST FOR OMANI INVESTMENT CHIEF'S [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2. 2. (U) Embassy requests the assistance of Washington agencies in scheduling appointments with appropriate officials from the Department of State, Department of Commerce, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Overseas Private [...] |
2008-01-13 12:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT323 |
NPT PREPARATORY COMMITTEE MEETING: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-04-28 13:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM PREL ENRG MNUC KNNP NPT IAEA MU |
| 08MUSCAT325 |
EMBASSY MUSCAT NOMINATION FOR 2008 AWARD FOR [...] Following up on his outstanding performance on labor issues the previous year (ref D), Labor/Human Rights Officer Andy Lentz has continued to significantly advance U.S. foreign policy interests in the labor field. As Oman's nascent independent labor unions (legalized in 2006) slowly develop [...] |
2008-04-29 06:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | APER AMGT ELAB PHUM MU |
| 08MUSCAT328 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: THE SYRIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM, REJECTION [...] SUMMARY: Private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" writes that America is falling into another Israeli trap over the allegations of Syria's nuclear program, warning against blind support for Israel. State Arabic daily "Oman" criticized Israel for rejecting the Hamas peace proposal. "Al-Watan" also call [...] |
2008-04-29 13:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT331 |
ENGAGING OMAN ON IRAN/IRAQ: OMANI OFFICIALS [...] (U) This message contains an Action Request; please see paragraph 5. 2. (S) The Ambassador extended ref A invitation on April 30 to Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi and encouraged him, as well as his counterpart in the Royal Office, to travel to a GCC capital of hi [...] |
2008-04-30 12:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT333 |
EMBASSY MUSCAT NOMINATION OF BRIAN GRIMM FOR HERBERT [...] Economic/Commercial Officer Brian Grimm significantly advanced U.S. policy and objectives in the economic field over the last year. His outstanding work on the Free Trade Agreement deserves the highest praise. In conjunction with his other accomplishments, I am pleased to nominate Brian for [...] |
2008-04-30 15:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | APER AMGT ECON BEXP ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT335 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN LICENSE 05-050036317 [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-03 09:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETTC KOMC UK MU |
| 08MUSCAT339 |
DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN PEOPLE: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-05 12:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KDEM CU MU |
| 08MUSCAT34 |
MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PRESIDENT'S TOUR TO THE REGION. [...] SUMMARY: President Bush's tour to the region is garnering extensive local media coverage in Oman. The media described his tour as "controversial" because of his remarks in support of Israel, in local eyes contradicting the purpose of the visit. Both private and government dailies expressed the [...] |
2008-01-14 10:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT343 |
OMAN DELIVERY OF PALESTINIAN INVESTMENT CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-07 13:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID KPAL PGOV PREL |
| 08MUSCAT344 |
SULTAN QABOOS BEGINS EXTENDED OVERSEAS VISIT [...] (U) All major Omani dailies on May 7 devoted colorful front page spreads to the start of the three-day official visit to Abu Dhabi by Sultan Qaboos, who departed Muscat the previous day. Accompanied by a delegation of seven ministers and other senior Omani officials, the Sultan was greeted at [...] |
2008-05-07 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT347 |
OMAN DELIVERY OF WIPO DEMARCHE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-11 09:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL AORC ETRD KIPR MU |
| 08MUSCAT348 |
ONE YEAR LATER: THE STRIKE AT PORT OF SALALAH- [...] (C) Summary: One year after a May 2007 strike at the Port of Salalah, Oman's largest transshipment facility, contacts suggest that there remains a high degree of distrust between the port's management and its workers. Management has adopted polices to protect itself from future labor unrest, [...] |
2008-05-11 09:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT349 |
SENIOR OMANI OFFICIALS UNAVAILABLE FOR ICI [...] No summary [...] |
2008-05-11 09:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL EAID ECON IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT35 |
OMAN FY08 BFIF REQUEST [...] Continued Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) assistance will be essential in helping the Embassy promote the soon-to-be-implemented U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Post requests $6,807 in BFIF program funds for outreach to the local community on the benefits of the FTA, strengt [...] |
2008-01-14 12:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | BEXP ETRD ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT351 |
FOLLOW UP ON OUTREACH TO ACTIVISTS: OMAN [...] (U) This cable provides updated information on Post's actions to engage with democracy and human rights activists and promote democratic reform in support of the President's Freedom Agenda in Oman. - - - - - - - - - - - - Meeting with Activists - - - - - - - - - - - - 2. (C) There are v [...] |
2008-05-12 11:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM KMPI KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT352 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON [...] SUMMARY: Private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" lamented the Lebanese violence, morbidly predicting unalterable changes to Lebanon's very nature. State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" on May 11 called on Arab nations to play positive, unbiased roles, then, on May 12, backed the Lebanese Army and Suleiman [...] |
2008-05-12 12:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT357 |
MINISTER OF MANPOWER RESPONDS TO ANXIETY ABOUT [...] (SBU) Summary: Through often direct exchanges with Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali al-Juma at a recent conference, oil and gas company executives expressed sharp concerns about a shortage of skilled labor in Oman's labor market. Juma, while acknowledging immediate problems of labor supply [...] |
2008-05-14 09:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT358 |
ENCOURAGING OMAN TO SUBSCRIBE TO HCOC [...] (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche, talking points and sample note verbale on April 22 to Abdullah al-Riaymi, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and strongly encouraged the Omani government to promptly subscribe to the Hague Code [...] |
2008-05-14 10:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MNUC MTCRE KSCA TSPA MU |
| 08MUSCAT359 |
LOOKING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OMAN'S INTERIOR [...] (C) Business officials in the Omani interior towns of Buraimi (located on the border with the United Arab Emirates) and Ibri are optimistic about the economic growth potential of their respective areas, in spite of the obstacles facing them. Improved road access and availability of natural gas [...] |
2008-05-14 10:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD EINV MU |
| 08MUSCAT36 |
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER REVIEWS PEACE PROCESS, IRAN [...] (SBU) In a January 8 meeting with a visiting U.S. Congressional delegation, Oman's Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs praised close U.S.-Oman ties and the two countries' "strategic" relationship. He applauded President Bush's renewed push to help create a Palestinian state, but feared [...] |
2008-01-14 13:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KPAL IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT360 |
MINISTER OF MANPOWER RESPONDS TO ANXIETY ABOUT [...] (SBU) Summary: Through often direct exchanges with Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali al-Juma at a recent conference, oil and gas company executives expressed sharp concerns about a shortage of skilled labor in Oman's labor market. Juma, while acknowledging immediate problems of labor supply [...] |
2008-05-14 10:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT361 |
SCENESETTER FOR U.S.-OMAN GULF SECURITY DIALGOUE [...] (U) In preparation for the next round of the U.S.-Oman Gulf Security Dialogue in Washington, D.C., Embassy Muscat provides the following updated information on the main subject areas scheduled for discussion. The final composition of the Omani delegation for the GSD has yet to be determined, [...] |
2008-05-14 11:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER MASS MNUC MOPS KNNP MU |
| 08MUSCAT374 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PEACE EFFORTS, DOHA DIALGOUE AND [...] SUMMARY: State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" recognized the Bush administration's peace efforts, but accused Israel of hindering real progress. "Oman" also signaled its hope for a positive outcome from the Doha dialogue, noting strong international support as the key. In a criticism of the Presid [...] |
2008-05-19 12:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT376 |
OMANI SUPPORT FOR ARAB LEAGUE EFFORTS TO RESOLVE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Secretary General of the Omani Foreign Ministry told the Ambassador on May 18 that Oman firmly supported ongoing Arab League efforts to help mediate an agreement among the various factions to end the crisis in Lebanon. While acknowledging the need for Hizballah to pledge to [...] |
2008-05-19 13:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT379 |
SULTAN QABOOS GRANTS RARE PRESS INTERVIEW [...] (C) A rare interview given by Sultan Qaboos to a Kuwaiti newspaper painted a predictably rosy picture of the Sultanate that pushed, if not exceeded, the bounds of credibility. According to the Sultan, who was treated to fawning praise by the interviewer (also the paper's chief editor and, rep [...] |
2008-05-21 13:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KDEM KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT380 |
GOVERNMENT MOVING FORWARD ON PARTIAL OMANTEL SALE [...] (U) On May 18, state-owned Arabic daily "Oman Daily Observer" confirmed reftel report that the government is likely to select a consortium of financial advisors, including Citibank and JP Morgan, to prepare majority state-owned Omantel for a sale of an undetermined amount of its stock to a str [...] |
2008-05-21 14:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECPS ECON EINV MU |
| 08MUSCAT384 |
OMAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS PAVE WAY FOR [...] (SBU) Oman's investment in its infrastructure is paying dividends, as port development has led to greater foreign participation in various downstream industrial opportunities, while improvements to Oman's air transportation network will facilitate increased tourist arrivals. Road construction [...] |
2008-05-26 12:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV EAIR MU |
| 08MUSCAT385 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: NEW LEBANESE PRESIDENT [...] SUMMARY: News of the Doha Agreement and the election of General Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president preoccupied both the State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" and private Arabic daily "Al-Watan", with editorials describing it as new chapter after lengthy political disturbance, which threatened the [...] |
2008-05-26 12:30:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT396 |
OMAN MULLING OVER VAT IMPLEMENTATION [...] (U) On May 26, non-local media reported that Oman intended to implement a value added tax (VAT) to reduce the government's dependence on oil exports for income, which currently accounts for 79% of its revenue. The report quoted a source from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that the VAT, [...] |
2008-06-01 10:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT397 |
DOHA ACCORD BEST CHANCE FOR MARCH 14 TO REGAIN [...] (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi told the Ambassador June 1 that albeit a far-from-perfect solution, the Doha agreement offers the March 14 coalition its best chance for regaining the political advantage in Lebanon. He urged the U.S. to continue its support for P [...] |
2008-06-01 11:45:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE MU |
| 08MUSCAT401 |
OMANI RESPONSE TO FRIENDS OF IRAQ CONFERENCE [...] (SBU) Post delivered ref A invitation to the Friends of Iraq Conference on May 13 via diplomatic note. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) contacted the Embassy on May 24 to request a copy of the agenda for the conference. On May 28, post transmitted ref B information, including the [...] |
2008-06-02 09:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MARR MOPS IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT402 |
OMAN UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE KOSOVO [...] No summary [...] |
2008-06-02 09:38:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT403 |
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER DOWNBEAT ON PROSPECTS FOR [...] (C) In a meeting with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs on June 1 to discuss a number of issues (septels), the Ambassador delivered reftel demarche and non-paper on the latest IAEA report regarding Iran's nuclear program. Bin Alawi acknowledged U.S. concerns over Tehran's nuclea [...] |
2008-06-02 10:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT404 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: ISRAELI CHALLENGE TO PEACE IN THE [...] SUMMARY: Commentaries this week focused on the scandal surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, presenting it as a diversion, likely intentionally created, to stall peace talks and progress on a Golan deal. State Arabic daily "Oman" called on Israel to initiate a prisoner exchange with Hamas [...] |
2008-06-02 12:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT409 |
MINISTER OF MANPOWER RECEIVES INITIAL TIP DEMARCHE [...] (C) On June 4, the Ambassador demarched Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali al Juma on the 2008 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report for Oman, providing him with both the country narrative and 60-day action plan (refs A, B). The Ambassador passed similar information to the office of the Secretar [...] |
2008-06-04 11:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KMPI KWMN ELAB SMIG MU |
| 08MUSCAT41 |
CODEL PRICE DISCUSSES TRADE SECURITY AND IRAN WITH [...] (SBU) Summary: A Congressional delegation (CODEL) led by Representative David Price of North Carolina -- Chairman of the House Appropriations Sub-Committee for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- visited Muscat and Salalah January 7-9 to assess DHS's Secure Freight Initiative (SFI)(ref [...] |
2008-01-16 07:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ETRD EWWT AMGT PTER MU |
| 08MUSCAT410 |
JUDGES NEED TRAINING TO IMPLEMENT LABOR LAWS [...] (SBU) Summary: During a recent Embassy-sponsored small group discussion on the role of the courts in implementing Oman's labor laws, business and labor leaders expressed a lack of confidence in the judicial process and judges' ability to settle labor disputes. The participants identified a p [...] |
2008-06-04 12:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB ETRD KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT418 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: Trafficking in Persons Report [...] SUMMARY: While the number of Omani papers responding to date to the release of the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is to date limited (to wire service material in on English private daily and more targeted coverage in a pair of Arabic and English sister papers), one paper has made the [...] |
2008-06-09 04:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT424 |
YOUNG OMANIS SOUND OFF ON REGIONAL ISSUES, [...] (C) During a recent meeting with the Ambassador, a group of young professionals shared their views on Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, democracy, and the public image of the U.S. Participants were downbeat on Iraq and thought it was inevitable that the U.S. would withdraw its troops f [...] |
2008-06-09 14:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM KMPI KPAL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT425 |
OMAN INDIGNANT OVER 2008 TIP REPORT; SUSPENDS TIP [...] (U) This is an Action Request. Please see paragraph 8 below. 2. (C) Summary: Sayyid Badr al-Busaidy, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), told me June 9 that the government of Oman does not accept Oman's placement on Tier 3 of the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) re [...] |
2008-06-09 14:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT426 |
OMAN TAKES ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TIP REPORT TO THE [...] (C) During a June 9 meeting on the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report (reftel), Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, informed the Ambassador that Oman planned to raise its ire with our report at the June 9 meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council [...] |
2008-06-10 13:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT427 |
MUSCAT RESPONSE TO CONGRESSIONAL REPORTING [...] Post has no information indicating that exploitative child labor occurs in Oman. Instances of child labor are reported in the informal, subsistence, and family business sectors of the economy; however, it does not appear to exist in any formal sector. A 2006 Royal Decree expressly prohibited [...] |
2008-06-10 13:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ELAB ETRD PHUM SOCI MU |
| 08MUSCAT428 |
MIGRANT WORKERS PROTEST NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES [...] (C) Summary: A recent protest by Indian construction workers over non-payment of wages ended in clashes with the employing company's security guards. The Indian Embassy in Muscat and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) helped resolve the dispute, with the company agreeing to a timetable to repay b [...] |
2008-06-10 13:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT429 |
TUNA COMMISSION CONVENES IN MUSCAT [...] On June 7, Commercial Assistant attended the opening of the 12th session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) in Muscat. The conference aims to promote cooperation among IOTC members to ensure, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilization of tuna stocks covere [...] |
2008-06-10 13:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIS ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT43 |
GOVERNMENT HOLDS ANTI-TRAFFICKING WORKSHOP [...] (SBU) Summary: Government officials and representatives of civil society met in December 2007 under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to review and amend Oman's draft anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) law. The Council of Ministers is expected to approve the law and name the [...] |
2008-01-16 10:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT430 |
AMBASSADOR CONDUCTS BROAD OUTREACH IN SALALAH [...] (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador visited the southern Omani city of Salalah and the surrounding governorate of Dhofar May 26-28. His trip included a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Dhofar, a tour of the operations of an expanding U.S.-based company, a discussion with university students ab [...] |
2008-06-11 11:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD ENRG SENV KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT431 |
ADDRESSING OUR TIER 3 TIP DISPUTE WITH OMAN [...] (C) Summary: The dispute over the Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report stems from the government's refusal to accept that there may be a trafficking problem in Oman, as well as its extreme sensitivity to its public image. Oman's threatened reappraisal of "all [...] |
2008-06-11 14:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MOPS MU |
| 08MUSCAT432 |
ADDRESSING OUR TIER 3 TIP DISPUTE WITH OMAN [...] (C) Summary: The dispute over the Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report stems from the government's refusal to accept that there may be a trafficking problem in Oman, as well as its extreme sensitivity to its public image. Oman's threatened reappraisal of "all [...] |
2008-06-14 02:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MOPS MU |
| 08MUSCAT434 |
SPECIAL OMAN MEDIA REACTION: BLASTING THE TRAFFICKING [...] SUMMARY: Omani media, public and private alike and in all outlets, highlighted the strong official response to the 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report (Refs A, B), as made public in comments on June 10 by Foreign Ministry Secretary General Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi via a text released by the offici [...] |
2008-06-14 10:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM OIIP SMIG KPAO ELAB KCRM KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT436 |
OMAN: MEPI REPORT CARD [...] (U) SUMMARY. Many of the major projects funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) over the past years are now, in one way or another, at a crossroads. With the 2007-08 program season winding down, Muscat's MEPI team, under the guidance of the Ambassador, offers this review of ME [...] |
2008-06-14 12:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KMPI KDEM KWMN ECON ELAB SCUL MU |
| 08MUSCAT437 |
MISSION EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE GREATER OMANI [...] Over the past two years, Embassy Muscat's Public Affairs and Consular Sections, with strong and consistent Front Office guidance and broader Mission support, have collaborated on a range of efforts aimed at demystifying the consular process, dispelling myths about U.S. visas, and reducing stil [...] |
2008-06-15 02:32:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KPAO PGOV MU CVIS |
| 08MUSCAT438 |
RESULTS OF SAFE HOUSE SURVEY PROVIDE SPECIFIC [...] (C) Summary: Using a survey designed by Post, the Philippine Embassy in Muscat recently interviewed 30 women seeking shelter in its safe house who had run away from their Omani sponsors in response to alleged mistreatment. According to the survey results, which Post compiled and analyzed, man [...] |
2008-06-15 03:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT441 |
OMAN RULES OUT REOPENING BAGHDAD EMBASSY, BUT WILL [...] (U) In an interview with local Arabic-language daily "Shabiba" on June 11, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi stated that the government had "no intention" of sending diplomats to either Baghdad or Kabul. He did not indicate for how long this decision would [...] |
2008-06-15 08:51:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AF IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT443 |
FUELED BY MEDIA, POPULAR RESENTMENT GROWS OVER TIP [...] (SBU) Local media have stepped up coverage of the Omani government's strong reaction to the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, with an increasing number of government officials and offices publicly adding their statements to those made initially by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). [...] |
2008-06-15 12:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KPAO OIIP SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT444 |
OMAN'S MAJLIS AL-SHURA CONDEMNS TIP REPORT [...] (SBU) On June 14, the Majlis al-Shura, the elected lower house of Oman's bicameral advisory body, issued a statement condemning the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, specifically accusing the U.S. State Department of issuing "false allegations" about Oman's record on TIP. The Shura's [...] |
2008-06-15 12:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT445 |
SIGNS OF POSSIBLE CHANGE IN OMAN-IRAN RELATIONSHIP [...] (S/NF) While maintaining close, cordial relations with Tehran has long been a priority for the Omani government, Oman has traditionally kept its neighbor to the north at arm's length, resulting in a relationship that is largely non-substantive. Bilateral economic ties remain limited and Oman [...] |
2008-06-15 13:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PINR PGOV PREL ECON ENRG IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT45 |
RESOLVING KOSOVO'S STATUS: OMANI RESPONSE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-16 11:36:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNMIK YI MU |
| 08MUSCAT454 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: Ongoing Trafficking Coverage [...] SUMMARY: Negative coverage of the TIP report continued to dominate news articles, editorials, and commentaries through the weekend and into Monday. After recent statements to the press from the Majlis A'Shura (reftel Muscat 444) and other government officials, Foreign Ministry Secretary Genera [...] |
2008-06-16 11:57:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT456 |
POINTS ON P5+1 REFRESHED PACKAGE FOR IRAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-06-16 12:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL KNNP IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT463 |
OMAN'S SME SECTOR TO BENEFIT FROM MEPI ASSISTANCE [...] (U) With funding from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a consulting team from Booz Allen Hamilton is advising the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Directorate General of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) on both developing an internal organizational workplan for the off [...] |
2008-06-17 12:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON BEXP KMPI PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT464 |
OMANI PUBLIC ANGER CONTINUES OVER TIP [...] (C) Summary: Widespread press coverage of Oman's anger over its Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report continued June 16 and 17, with articles increasingly linking the TIP Report to critiques of broader U.S. policy in the region. The media paid particular attention to [...] |
2008-06-17 12:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT466 |
OMANI GOVERNMENT TAKES FURTHER ACTION TO COUNTER [...] On June 9, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) announced that it would reduce the lending ratio of commercial banks from 87.5% to 82.5% and increase the minimum reserve requirement from 5% to 8% of total deposits, actions intended to control inflationary pressures by absorbing excess liquidity and [...] |
2008-06-18 06:41:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT467 |
OMAN LOWERS OIL OUTPUT PROJECTIONS [...] (U) On June 15, Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy told media outlets that Oman's 2008 oil production figures had been revised downward from a projected 790,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 750,000 bpd. Oman reported a production rate of 743,000 bpd over the first four months [...] |
2008-06-18 10:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG ECON MU IR |
| 08MUSCAT468 |
YOUTH FUND FACES CHALLENGES IN PROMOTING SMES [...] On June 9, Commercial Assistant and a consultative team from Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), under sponsorship from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), met with Malak al-Shaibani, General Manager of the Fund for Development of Youth Projects ("Sharakah"), to discuss its role in the devel [...] |
2008-06-18 12:03:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT469 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON TIP; [...] SUMMARY: Press coverage of TIP continued at the same elevated level reported in reftel, with over a dozen articles appearing in English and Arabic since Monday, June 16. On Tuesday, June 17, the Oman Journalist Association (OJA) issued a statement, carried in all dailies, in line with other of [...] |
2008-06-21 12:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT47 |
OMANI FOREIGN POLICY AS REFLECTED IN THE SPEECHES [...] (C) Summary: In addition to being the longest-serving head of state in the GCC, Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id is also one of the most consistent Arab leaders with respect to his stated views on foreign policy. An examination of the relatively limited number of public speeches he has given since ta [...] |
2008-01-20 13:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT474 |
ROYAL OMAN POLICE, MAJLIS AL-SHURA SUSPEND AREAS [...] (C) Summary: The dispute over Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is beginning to affect Post's relations with some government and non-governmental entities in Oman. The Royal Oman Police's (ROP) Criminal Investigation Division informed Post that due to Oman' [...] |
2008-06-23 10:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT476 |
OMANI OFFICIALS CLAIM USG READY TO REVISE TIP [...] (C) Sources indicate that there has been discussion within the Omani government that the USG ultimately will revise the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, resulting in Oman's removal from Tier 3. The Director General (DG) of Royal Oman Police (ROP) Customs told poloff June 23 that he e [...] |
2008-06-23 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KPAO OIIP SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT477 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE OFFICIALS COMMENT ON TIP [...] SUMMARY: After a one day respite on June 22, Omani media took up arms again against the TIP report on June 23. Sayyid Badr al Busaidy, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Oman has "protested in the strongest terms," and "the report is unjustified," in a Reuters a [...] |
2008-06-23 13:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT480 |
NEGATIVE TIP COVERAGE SHOWS SIGNS OF A COORDINATED [...] (C) Summary: Coverage in both the Arabic and English-language local press of Oman's Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has gone through several distinct stages, with an increasing number of official and civil society actors criticizing the report and the USG. Conta [...] |
2008-06-24 09:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN KPAO OIIP SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT486 |
OMANI BANKS REMAIN FLUSH WITH LIQUIDITY [...] (C) On June 28, Econoff reviewed the status of Oman's banking sector with Mansour al-Raisi, Banking Examination Manager, Central Bank of Oman (CBO). Raisi noted that with the continued rise in oil prices, Oman's banking system remained flush with liquidity. "If you (a banker) can't make mone [...] |
2008-06-29 12:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT491 |
USDA STAGES TRANSBOUNDARY ANIMAL DISEASES WORKSHOP [...] (U) On June 22, the USDA, in association with Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, opened a five-day workshop on the effect of transboundary animal diseases on international trade for over 30 government officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemen. The seminar, sponsored by the Middle Eas [...] |
2008-06-30 12:58:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ETRD ECON KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT493 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: MORE TIP COVERAGE [...] SUMMARY: TIP media coverage has abated slightly, but still remains a focus of media attention. Last week saw only one additional formal statement by an Omani official or institution, the State Council, whose statement did not mention TIP directly. A news report by Arabic daily "As Shabiba" l [...] |
2008-07-01 09:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT494 |
OMAN INTERESTED IN USG EFFORTS ON IMPLEMENTING [...] This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. 2. On June 29, Econoff met with Dr. Salah al-Awaidy, Director of Infectious Disease Surveillance, Ministry of Health, to discuss reftel information on USG efforts to implement recently revised international health regulations (IHRs). Awaid [...] |
2008-07-01 11:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | TBIO SENV PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT495 |
OMANI MINISTRY URGES U.S. PHARMA COMPANIES TO [...] On June 30, Econoff met with Dr. Batool Jaffer Suleiman, Director of Rational Drug Use, Ministry of Health, to discuss the government's recent purchase of Indian generic product Bortenat, produced by Natco Pharmaceuticals, instead of U.S.-patented Velcade, produced by Johnson and Johnson. Sule [...] |
2008-07-01 11:33:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD KIPR ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT496 |
OMAN DELIVERY OF GCC TRADEMARK LEGISLATION REQUEST [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-01 11:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD KIPR ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT499 |
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL DENIES PRESS CLAIM OF [...] (C) Summary: According to local press, a primary court near Muscat recently convicted several third-country nationals on charges of prostitution in a trafficking in persons (TIP)-related case. An official in the Attorney General's office denied that the case involved TIP, claiming that it was [...] |
2008-07-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT500 |
MINISTER OF MANPOWER ISSUES NEW OCCUPATIONAL [...] (U) In a step that a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) official told poloff was "directly related to stopping trafficking in persons (TIP)," Minister of Manpower Juma bin Ali al Juma issued new occupational health and safety regulations on July 1 that cover all private sector companies operating in Om [...] |
2008-07-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT501 |
OMAN SENDS ECONOMIC DELEGATION TO IRAQ [...] (U) An Omani delegation led by Mohammed bin Nassir al-Khusaibi, Secretary General of the Ministry of National Economy, completed a three-day economic mission to Baghdad on July 1. The 19-member contingent, which included officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Industr [...] |
2008-07-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT506 |
OMAN'S DELEGATION TO 63RD UNGA [...] (SBU) On July 6, Econoff met with Humaid al-Maani, Director of the Secretary General's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to inquire about Oman's planned attendance at the upcoming 63rd UN General Assembly. Maani replied that Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Humud al-Busaidi, Secretary General, Mi [...] |
2008-07-06 08:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OTRA OVIP UNGA KSEP MU |
| 08MUSCAT508 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO KOSOVO RECOGNITION REQUEST [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-06 11:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO PGOV MU |
| 08MUSCAT509 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO PA FUNDING REQUEST [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-06 12:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KPAL PGOV PREL KWBG MU |
| 08MUSCAT513 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: GULF IGNORED OVER IRAN ISSUE [...] SUMMARY: Omani press focused this week on the nuclear tensions between Israel and Iran, pushing TIP further to the background. Arabic daily "Al Watan" criticized the U.S. administration for ignoring the Gulf in its Iran strategy. An online discussion forum asking about Oman's reaction to a po [...] |
2008-07-07 12:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT515 |
OMAN CONTINUES TO KEEP ISLAMIC BANKING AT ARM'S [...] (U) On June 28, Arabic-language daily "al-Shabiba" retracted a news article that Bank Muscat, the nation's largest, was preparing to offer the first type of loans in Oman to be compliant with Islamic Shari'a law. The paper had mistakenly reported on June 25 that the bank would offer such loan [...] |
2008-07-09 09:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT52 |
MUSCAT'S NOMINEE FOR 2008 ECONOMIC TRAINING COURSE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-22 13:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AFSI AFSN AMGT ETRD PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT524 |
OMAN FY08 BFIF PROGRAM INTERIM RESULTS [...] Per ref A request, Embassy Muscat reports that $1,252 has been spent from its FY 2008 Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) account for the training of its Commercial Assistant at its Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) partnership post in Dubai. On January 28-30, the Commercial Assistant [...] |
2008-07-14 05:40:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | AFIN BEXP BTIO ECON EINV ETRD ADPM MU |
| 08MUSCAT527 |
TIP REPORT DISPUTE TAKES TOLL ON EMBASSY [...] (C) The placement of Oman on Tier 3 of the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report has had significant negative repercussions on the Embassy's relations with the Omani government, as well as with non-governmental organizations and certain private individuals. As reported previously, the dir [...] |
2008-07-14 11:46:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KMPI SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT528 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Commentaries this week focused on Oman's and the Gulf's relationship to U.S. in the context of the Iran situation. "As Shabiba" reported on the Omani Foreign Ministry's decision not to send an ambassador to Baghdad and criticized the U.S. for allowing Iranian influence in Iraq to gro [...] |
2008-07-14 13:56:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT532 |
DEMARCHE ON NAM FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-07-16 12:34:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL KNNP MNUC IAEA IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT536 |
IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT TO MUSCAT (JULY [...] (SBU) Summary: Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki made a brief visit to Muscat on July 16 for talks with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi. Mottaki reportedly did not meet with other senior Omani officials. While in Oman, Mottaki granted a press intervi [...] |
2008-07-21 13:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MNUC IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT537 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Local papers focused heavily on International Criminal Court (ICC) action against the Sudanese president, with government-owned daily "Oman" calling it a plot by superpowers to rob Sudan. "Oman" expressed optimism over U.S. participation in the Geneva talks on the Iranian nuclear iss [...] |
2008-07-21 13:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT540 |
SHI'A ISLAM IN OMAN [...] (C) Despite its small size, Oman's population of well-integrated Shi'a Muslims plays an influential role in Oman's economy and politics. Most Shi'a strongly identify themselves as Omanis, but remain distinct in religious matters. The government provides broad autonomy to Omani Shi'a in condu [...] |
2008-07-22 08:15:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PINR PREL OPRC KIRF MU |
| 08MUSCAT550 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Government-daily "Oman" praised the Arab League's support for Sudan's proposal to form special human rights courts, calling for more strong action by Arabs in Sudan's defense against the ICC. Private daily "Al Watan" said that U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's statements sh [...] |
2008-07-28 12:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT556 |
SCENESETTER FOR VICE ADMIIRAL GORTNEY'S VISIT TO [...] (C) Vice Admiral Gortney: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region ) the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic" ) the Sultanate remains a strong and trusted U.S. partner. Yet, while we enjoy close relations with Oman, we [...] |
2008-08-04 04:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER MASS MNUC MOPS KNNP MU |
| 08MUSCAT557 |
PIRATED GERMAN CARGO SHIP SEEKS REFUGE IN SALALAH [...] (U) Local press reported that a 120-meter German cargo ship, MV Lehmann Timber, arrived in the southern port city of Salalah on July 21 after being captured and released by armed Somali pirates. According to media articles, the vessel, taken by force on May 28 during a voyage in the Gulf of A [...] |
2008-08-04 05:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHSA KCRM EWWT MU |
| 08MUSCAT558 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Editorials and commentaries in Oman's dailies focused on the negative effect of Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's resignation and the U.S. elections on the peace process, and on violence between Palestinian groups. Articles in private daily "Al Watan" called Israel's negotiations with [...] |
2008-08-04 12:11:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT565 |
OMAN REMAINS WARY OF IRANIAN EXPANSIONISM [...] (S/NF) Minister of the Royal Office and head of the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ali bin Majid al-Ma'amari, reviewed Oman's view on Iran from a security perspective, highlighting Omani awareness of Iran's deceptive tactics and expansionist ideologic [...] |
2008-08-07 07:43:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PARM IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT572 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION TO SULTAN'S LIBYA VISIT [...] (U) Oman media reports Sultan Qaboos bin Said will arrive in Libya today for an official visit with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Over the next several days, the two leaders will discuss the Oman-Libya relationship and explore opportunities for further cooperation. They will also discuss broader A [...] |
2008-08-11 14:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | MU XF XI |
| 08MUSCAT575 |
OMAN'S CHANGING WORKWEEK [...] (SBU) Summary: Government officials encouraged the private sector to adopt a five-day workweek in lieu of the current six days to help prompt more Omanis to seek jobs outside the public sector. In addition, financial institutions and a growing number of private businesses have taken steps t [...] |
2008-08-13 14:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT576 |
OMANI MFA SECRETARY GENERAL RECOGNIZES NEED FOR [...] (C) The Ambassador called on MFA Secretary General Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamud Al Busaidi on August 13 to discuss recent developments regarding trafficking-in-persons (TIP), as well as other issues (septel). The Ambassador noted that Washington expected the announcement of the move of Oma [...] |
2008-08-13 14:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL ELAB SMIG MU |
| 08MUSCAT582 |
OMAN MOVING FORWARD AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS [...] (SBU) Despite the absence of many senior officials and the slow pace of the Omani bureaucracy during the hot summer months, the government has demonstrated over the past 90 days its commitment to take new measures against trafficking-in-persons (TIP). As reported previously, on July 1 the Mi [...] |
2008-08-17 13:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT583 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Editorials over the past week have primarily focused on visits by Sultan Qaboos to Libya, Egypt, and Jordan, and have stuck safely to standard language and praise. On regional issues, private daily "AL-Watan" noted that Palestinians should expect little from the visit of the U.S. Se [...] |
2008-08-18 12:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT593 |
TELECOM LICENSE ISSUE MAY FURTHER DELAY FTA [...] (C) Summary: Oman's Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) held a press conference August 11 inviting companies to bid for a new fixed telecommunications license package. The bidding process may further delay implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by deferring othe [...] |
2008-08-21 16:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EINT ETRD ETTC MU ETRA |
| 08MUSCAT599 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: State daily "Oman" commented on the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners, it was surprising that there were Palestinian personalities revealed their identities and ideological belonging. "Oman" also stressed the importance of Iraqi stability for the region. Private daily "Al-Watan" h [...] |
2008-08-25 12:29:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT608 |
OMANI AMBASSADOR TO DELIVER FTA MESSAGE FROM [...] (C) Dr. Salem al-Ismaily, Executive President of the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development (OCIPED), informed the Ambassador on August 25 that Sultan Qaboos personally recalled Omani Ambassador to the U.S. Hunaina al-Mughairy to Muscat to provide her with an important m [...] |
2008-08-26 12:35:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT613 |
OMANI RESPONSE TO RUSSIA-GEORGIA CONFLICT AND [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-27 13:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR RU GG MU |
| 08MUSCAT614 |
KOSOVO ICJ RESOLUTION AT UNGA: OMAN RESPONSE [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-27 13:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN KV MU |
| 08MUSCAT615 |
OMAN TO REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING OUT ON MAURITANIA [...] No summary [...] |
2008-08-27 13:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM MR MU |
| 08MUSCAT62 |
OMAN DELIVERY OF ARAB LEAGUE DEMARCHE REQUEST [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-26 13:04:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT623 |
SULTAN'S SUMMER TRAVELS, GCC SUMMIT AND FTA [...] (C) Receiving the Ambassador at his residence August 31, Sultan Qaboos' Advisor for External Liaison, Dr. Omar Zawawi, reviewed the Sultan's recent official/private trip through the Middle East and Europe, reaffirmed the Sultan's commitment to implementing quickly the U.S.-Oman FTA, and brie [...] |
2008-09-02 04:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT625 |
MINISTER OUTLINES OMAN'S PLANS TO COMBAT [...] (C) Summary: Oman's Minister of Manpower reaffirmed Oman's determination to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in a meeting with the Ambassador on September 2. During a conversation discussing a variety of topics, Minister Juma Ali Juma outlined immediate steps underway by the Omani governm [...] |
2008-09-02 13:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT626 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: While the state daily "Oman" praised U.S. efforts toward Israeli-Palestinian peace, private daily "Al-Watan" accused the American administration of a week stand on the issue, decrying a lack of firmness toward Israel. "Al-Watan" also suggested that the Israeli Prime Minister's proposa [...] |
2008-09-03 06:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT634 |
EMBASSY CONTACT ASSERTS OMAN DETERMINED TO IMPROVE [...] (C) Sultan Qaboos has made it clear that he intends to strengthen Oman's efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) over the next year in order to improve Oman's tier ranking on the USG TIP report, according to Ahmad al-Mukhaini, Assistant Secretary General for the Majlis al-Shura Secretar [...] |
2008-09-03 14:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT636 |
DEMARCHE IN PREPARATION FOR ARAB LEAGUE [...] (C) Summary: During a September 6 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi said Oman was "confused" by conflicting reports on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He was disappointed by events following Annapolis and doubtful that an agreement could [...] |
2008-09-07 13:00:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT640 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Daily "Al-Watan" urged GCC countries and Iran to quickly settle the territorial dispute with the United Arab Emirates. On September 5, "Al Watan" attacked Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's description of the Iraq war as divine action. State daily "Oman" hailed Syria's progre [...] |
2008-09-08 12:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT647 |
SULTAN QABOOS REPLACES LABOR MINISTER AND MUSCAT [...] (C) In a surprise move to many, Sultan Qaboos removed Oman's Minister of Manpower in a September 6 royal decree and replaced him with a government official who, although reportedly very competent, has little direct experience in labor issues. The reason for the Minister's ouster is unknown, [...] |
2008-09-10 12:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB SMIG KTIP MU |
| 08MUSCAT65 |
SUCCESSFUL EPA WORKSHOP CONCLUDES [...] On January 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in association with the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement and the Omani Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, concluded two successful one-day workshops in Muscat on the Role of Science in En [...] |
2008-01-28 12:08:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL SENV KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT659 |
UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS PRIORITIES: OMAN [...] (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief delivered relevant reftel points on September 14 to Sameh al-Amri, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. (Note: Sayyid Badr will head Oman's delegation to this year's UN General Assembly. End Note.) Al-Amri had no sub [...] |
2008-09-15 09:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL UN MU |
| 08MUSCAT661 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Arabic daily "Al Watan" wrote twice on the crisis in Darfur, calling for the establishment of an Arab mechanism for conflict resolution and praising the Arab Foreign Ministers' intent to seize initiative. Government daily "Oman" blamed conspirators for creating regional instability w [...] |
2008-09-15 12:25:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT662 |
OMANIS PUBLICLY CONFIRM OMAN-IRAN GAS DEAL [...] (U) A number of internet news and business sites have recently published a Reuters report dated September 11 on an Oman-Iran plan to develop Iran's off-shore Kish gas field in the Arabian Gulf. Quoting a "project official" at Oman's Ministry of Oil & Gas who "declined to be named," the Reuter [...] |
2008-09-15 14:16:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EINV ENRG EPET IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT681 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: State Arabic daily "Oman" criticized corrupt Omani businessmen for their role in Oman's Tier 3 Trafficking in Persons rating. Private daily "Al Shabiba" warned that a lack of true freedom of expression was causing a backsliding to tribalism. Another "Al Shabiba" editorial accused sen [...] |
2008-09-23 11:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT682 |
OMAN TAKES HARD LINE STANCE ON TELECOM LICENSES; [...] (C) Summary: In a letter received by post on September 21, Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (TRA) defended its recent bid process to award a single, integrated telecommunications license package for multiple services (including fixed-line service) despite U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agree [...] |
2008-09-23 13:27:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN EINT EINV ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT683 |
OMAN REQUESTS MEETING WITH U.S. IAEA DELEGATION TO [...] (U) This is an Action Request. Please see paragraph 5. 2. (C) At the request of the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Ambassador met on September 21 with Ambassador Ali bin Salim bin Mas'ud al-Ma'amari, Chief of the MFA's newly established Office of Peaceful Nuclear Technology [...] |
2008-09-23 13:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KNNP MNUC ENRG MU |
| 08MUSCAT696 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Government daily "Oman" praised recent agreements in Lebanon to remove antagonistic party slogans from the streets. "Oman" also called on all Gulf countries to protect themselves from the American economic crisis, calling for "appropriate precautionary measures". Private daily "Al-Wa [...] |
2008-09-30 05:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT697 |
BMENA FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: OMANI ATTENDANCE [...] (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarche via diplomatic note on September 20. During a September 23 discussion with Mohammed al-Hassan, Director of Political Affairs for Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi, Pol-Econ Chief reviewed the importance of the Forum of the Future an [...] |
2008-09-30 10:09:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KMPI MU |
| 08MUSCAT698 |
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-09-30 10:10:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT70 |
MEDIA REACTION: GAZA STRIP; LEBANON; ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS [...] SUMMARY: Editorials in private daily "al Watan" call the U.S. veto of the UNSC draft resolution on Gaza "typical discriminatory policy". Another "al Watan" editorial states that Arab foreign ministers find themselves at a difficult crossroad at the Arab Leagues meeting on Lebanon. State daily " [...] |
2008-01-29 12:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT708 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: This week, Omani dailies continued to comment on the global financial crisis and the Middle East peace process. Government Arabic daily "Oman" sounded another call for governments to act with fiscal responsibility. "Oman" also predicted a stagnation of the Middle East peace process a [...] |
2008-10-06 13:02:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT709 |
INTERIOR RESIDENTS EXPRESS VIEWS ON U.S. FINANCIAL [...] (C) Summary: In his 'Eid al Fitr calls on senior sheikhs and majlis members in Oman's interior Sharqia governorate, the Ambassador heard diverse and sometimes surprising views about the U.S. and on Omani government policies. Omanis expressed considerable interest in the ongoing financial c [...] |
2008-10-06 13:20:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI ECON EFIN KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT72 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO UK PSI OUTREACH EVENT [...] No summary [...] |
2008-01-29 13:14:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | PHSA PARM PREL KNNP MU |
| 08MUSCAT721 |
OMAN MEDIA REACTION [...] SUMMARY: Omani dailies continued writing on the global financial crisis. Private daily "Al Watan" predicted the rise of a multi-polar world as a result of economic shifts. Private daily "Al Shabiba" said the economic crisis is another failure of the U.S. administration, causing allies to ree [...] |
2008-10-14 12:48:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT722 |
OMAN WEATHERS GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS [...] (C) Despite public assurances from officials that Oman's economy has not been affected by the global financial crisis, the Sultanate's stock market dropped by almost 40% over the last five months while its banking system, formerly flush with cash, now suffers from a lack of liquidity. Local [...] |
2008-10-14 14:18:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN ENRG MU |
| 08MUSCAT723 |
ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-10-15 09:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM AF MU |
| 08MUSCAT724 |
OMAN UNLIKELY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA [...] (C) During an October 13 meeting with Mohammed al-Hassan, Director of Political Affairs for Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi, Pol-Econ Chief delivered ref A and B demarches and urged the Omani government to strongly consider making a contribution to reconstruction efforts in Georgia [...] |
2008-10-15 09:50:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID EFIN KCRS KMCA GG MU |
| 08MUSCAT727 |
GCC SUMMIT MOVED TO DECEMBER [...] (C) Contacts in the government and Muscat hotels have confirmed that the GCC Summit, originally scheduled for late November in the Omani capital, has been postponed to December. The government has not yet announced a new date for the Summit, but Embassy sources report that the event may be h [...] |
2008-10-15 13:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AMGT MU |
| 08MUSCAT728 |
UNDERSTANDING AND MOVING ON FROM OMAN'S HARSH [...] (C) There are likely several reasons behind Oman's hypersensitivity and reaction to its Tier 3 ranking in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report: its unspoken past involvement in the slave trade, its strong desire to protect and shape its national image, and its devotion to the principl [...] |
2008-10-16 14:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PHUM PREL SMIG MASS ECON ETRD ELAB MU |
| 08MUSCAT729 |
SCENESETTER FOR THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S VISIT TO [...] (C) Mr. Deputy Secretary: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region (the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic" ), the Sultanate remains a trusted U.S. partner. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "Treaty [...] |
2008-10-16 14:24:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PREL PTER ECON ENRG ETRD KNNP KPAL KTIP SMIG |
| 08MUSCAT731 |
MINISTER SEEKING COMPROMISES TO COMPLETE FTA [...] (C) Summary: Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqbool bin Ali Sultan told the Ambassador on October 15 that compromise on a number of issues will be necessary if the U.S. and Oman are to conclude the FTA implementation process. He recognized that there are differences in how each party th [...] |
2008-10-18 13:52:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN MU PREL |
| 08MUSCAT732 |
OMAN PLEASED WITH FINAL TIP TIER RANKING, PROMISES [...] (C) The Ambassador informed Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General, on October 18 of the President's determination upgrading Oman from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List in the Department's most recent Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Sayyid Badr was very pleased [...] |
2008-10-19 08:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KTIP SMIG MU |
| 08MUSCAT738 |
SCENESETTER FOR U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE SCHWAB'S [...] (C) Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region (the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic"), the Sultanate remains a trusted U.S. partner. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "Treaty of Amity and Commerce," [...] |
2008-10-22 13:55:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON EFIN ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT743 |
USTR VISIT RE-ENERGIZES FTA IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS [...] (C) Summary: USTR Ambassador Schwab met with Sultan Qaboos and government officials during her October 24-26 visit to Oman to resolve outstanding Free Trade Agreement issues and achieve implementation by the end of the year. While problems remain, the visit and related meetings between USTR [...] |
2008-10-27 13:17:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT744 |
DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETINGS WITH OMANI SULTAN [...] (C) The Deputy Secretary of State and the Ambassador met on October 19 with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues. Bin Alawi welcomed Oman's upgrade from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) [...] |
2008-10-28 06:37:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KTIP MNUC ECON ETRD SMIG IR IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT746 |
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR PROPOSED NESA CENTER [...] (U) This is an Action Request; please see paragraph 5. 2. (C) Post continues to strongly support the establishment of a regional office in Muscat of the Department of Defense's Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies. Oman would provide an ideal geographic location for suc [...] |
2008-10-29 11:59:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL AMGT KMRS MASS MU |
| 08MUSCAT747 |
SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY SPELLINGS TRIP TO OMAN [...] (SBU) Madam Secretary: Embassy Muscat, my wife and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region (the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic"), the Sultanate remains a trusted U.S. partner. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "T [...] |
2008-10-29 13:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OEXC OVIP KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT748 |
SCENESETTER FOR SECRETARY SPELLINGS TRIP TO OMAN [...] (SBU) Madam Secretary: Embassy Muscat, my wife and I warmly welcome you to Oman. As one of our oldest friends in the region (the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic"), the Sultanate remains a trusted U.S. partner. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "T [...] |
2008-10-29 13:39:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL OEXC OVIP KPAO MU |
| 08MUSCAT749 |
OMANI OFFICIALS DISCUSS IMPACT OF GLOBAL CREDIT [...] (C) Summary: The Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), Hamoud bin Sangour al-Zadjali, told the Ambassador that Oman had no direct exposure to the global financial crisis as its banks had not invested in mortgage-backed securities. While contending that liquidity in local ba [...] |
2008-10-29 13:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT75 |
OMAN RESPONSE TO SECTION 1377 TELECOM TRADE [...] In response to reftel request, Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has proclaimed itself to be "technology neutral" with regard to permitting Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in Oman, so long as carriers are licensed to offer them and they can be legally intercepte [...] |
2008-01-30 11:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS ETRD USTR MU |
| 08MUSCAT759 |
ILO POSITIVE ABOUT PROGRESS ON LABOR UNIONS AND [...] (C) Summary: According to International Labor Organization (ILO) representatives conducting training in Oman, the new Minister of Manpower is solidly behind efforts against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and is in support of labor unions. As part of the ILO labor inspector training, Omanis are [...] |
2008-11-04 08:53:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ELAB KTIP MU |
| 08MUSCAT765 |
FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON IRAN: OMANI RESPONSE [...] (C) Post delivered relevant reftel information to the government of Oman on November 3 via diplomatic note. On November 5, DCM met with Mohammed al-Hassan, Director of Political Affairs for Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi, and asked that Oman seriously consider takin [...] |
2008-11-05 12:19:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL EFIN KNNP IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT767 |
EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR OCTOBER 2008 [...] (SBU) Nothing to report. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 2. (SBU) ISIT II training - October 25 to 29. See paragraph 6 below. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 3. (SBU) On September 22, the EXBS Advisor, Pol-Econ Chief and Pol-Econ Officer met with the Director of the [...] |
2008-11-09 12:21:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU |
| 08MUSCAT772 |
OMAN REACTS TO THE U.S. ELECTIONS [...] SUMMARY: As the November 4 presidential election approached, on Election Day, and in the immediate wake of the election results being announced, Omanis at all levels have been remarkably focused on events as they unfolded. In the media, online, and in person at a range of recent events, we ha [...] |
2008-11-12 10:05:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED | OIIP KPAO KMDR MU |
| 08MUSCAT774 |
DISCOURAGING OMANI GAS DEALS WITH IRAN [...] (C) The DCM delivered ref A demarche on November 5 to Mohammed al-Hassan, Political Affairs Director for the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusef bin Alawi. In particular, the DCM emphasized that a major energy deal with the regime in Tehran would undermine attempts by the P5 plus [...] |
2008-11-12 12:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET ETTC IR MU |
| 08MUSCAT775 |
UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS: OMAN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-12 12:54:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL MU |
| 08MUSCAT776 |
SCENESETTER FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE [...] (C) As one of our oldest friends in the region (the Omanis refer to their relationship with us as "strategic"), the Sultanate remains a trusted U.S. partner. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "Treaty of Amity and Commerce," second oldest in the Middle East and North Africa. [...] |
2008-11-12 13:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL PTER MASS MNUC MOPS KNNP MU |
| 08MUSCAT779 |
OMAN PARTICIPATION IN SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE [...] (U) Post highly recommends Oman for implementation of the proposed MEPI Small Business Initiative for Women (SBIFW). Omani businesswomen represent a rapidly growing segment of the private sector and as such are increasingly requesting training and assistance. These requests range from support [...] |
2008-11-16 08:23:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM KMPI EAID ECON MU |
| 08MUSCAT784 |
DEPUTY USTR VISIT CLEARS WAY FOR FTA IMPLEMENTATION [...] (SBU) Building upon the progress towards implementation of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) achieved by the visit of U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab to Oman on October 24-26 (reftel), a team of USTR experts and negotiators arrived in Muscat on November 7 for a week-long seri [...] |
2008-11-17 10:42:00 | Embassy Muscat | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECON ETRD MU |
| 08MUSCAT789 |
OMAN'S BIN ALAWI DISCUSSES U.S.-GCC SECURITY, [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador November 17, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusef bin Alawi reviewed Oman's idea for developing U.S.-GCC security cooperation, which will be presented for discussion at the December GCC summit, his thoughts on Mideast peace, Iraq and t [...] |
2008-11-18 11:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KPAL GCC PK IN IZ MU |
| 08MUSCAT793 |
MAINTAINING FORWARD MOVEMENT ON TRAFFICKING IN [...] No summary [...] |
2008-11-19 11:31:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR KTIP KWMN MU |
| 08MUSCAT795 |
OMAN ESTABLISHES HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION [...] (U) As predicted by post contacts (refs A, B), Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree on November 16 establishing an autonomous human rights commission. The commission will be located in Muscat and affiliated with the Majlis al-Dowla, the appointed upper house of Oman's bicameral advisory body. [...] |
2008-11-19 12:49:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM MU |
| 08MUSCAT796 |
MAINTAINING FORWARD MOVEMENT ON TRAFFICKING IN [...] (C) On November 16, the DCM and Pol-Econ Chief paid an introductory call to Ambassador Lyutha bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-Mughairy, the new director of the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General, Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. (Note: As Sayyid Badr is post's senior Omani interlocu [...] |
2008-11-19 13:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PINR KTIP KWMN MU |
| 08MUSCAT797 |
SCENESETTER FOR GENERAL PETRAEUS' VISIT TO OMAN [...] (C) General Petraeus: Embassy Muscat and I warmly welcome you to Oman. One of our oldest and most dependable friends in the region, Oman remains a valued ally. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the U.S.-Oman "Treaty of Amity and Commerce," second oldest in the Middle East and North [...] |
2008-11-19 14:28:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PARM PREL PTER MASS MNUC MOPS KNNP IR IZ |