US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2145

UNCLAS MUSCAT 002145 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/PI, NEA/ARPI 
ABU DHABI FOR MEPI:HWECHSEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMPI, KDEM, KPAO, PREL, ECON, OPDC, U.S.-Oman Relations 
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO SECRETARY'S RABAT INVITATION 
 
REF: SECSTATE 251371 
 
1. In response to reftel letter from Secretary Powell to G-8 
and Broader Middle East and North Africa foreign ministers, 
the Embassy received December 8 a reply letter from Minister 
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah 
to the Secretary under cover of a diplomatic note.  The text 
is as follows: 
 
December 5, 2004 
 
Dear Secretary Powell, 
 
Thank you very much for your message of November 27 
concerning the Forum for the Future conference in Rabat on 
December 11.  I regret very much I am unable to attend 
myself, but I am glad to say I will be represented by my 
Undersecretary, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaid, and my 
colleague Minister for National Economy Ahmed Macki will be 
represented by his Secretary General, Mohammed al Khusaibi. 
 
May I take this opportunity to express our firm support for 
the Forum for the Future and its objectives.  We believe 
modernization and development are important policy objectives 
that can help bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East. 
We are most grateful for the efforts of the governments of 
the United States and Morocco in organizing the conference, 
and in particular I would like to express my thanks to you 
for your strong personal commitment to this initiative. 
 
With very best wishes for a successful conference, 
 
Yours sincerely, 
/s/ 
Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah 
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs 
(end text.) 
 
2. The diplomatic note gave no indication of how the signed 
original will be transmitted.  The Embassy will forward a fax 
copy of the Minister's letter to NEA/ARPI. 
BALTIMORE