US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2183

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 002183 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR R (PHARRISON), IIP/FO (PENGLAND), IIP/G/IR 
(CBORYS), NEA/PPD (MQUINN, CWHITTLESEY, PAGNEW, DBENZE), 
NEA/ARP (TROBERTS) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KIRC, OIIP, SCUL, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: AMERICAN CORNERS: FIVE IS NOT ENOUGH 
 
REF: Muscat 1703 and previous 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  This is an action message.  Please see paragraph 8 for 
action requested. 
 
2. In view of the success and popularity of Oman's five 
existing American Corners, Embassy Muscat requests funding 
for two additional ones.  Suitable locations have already 
been identified: the Muscat Higher College of Technology, a 
leading vocational training institute; and Sultan Qaboos 
University, the nation's flagship educational institution. 
The Higher College of Technology is our priority location 
for a new Corner because of its focus on non-elite students 
from lower socio-economic backgrounds.  Post's previous 
Corners cost USD $54,000.  However, we anticipate that the 
cost of each of the proposed Corners will be approximately 
USD $33,000 because computers, furniture and other start-up 
items are already in place at both locations.  End summary. 
 
----------------- 
Solid Foundations 
----------------- 
 
3. During 2004, Embassy Muscat opened five American Corners 
in the Sultanate of Oman, including the first Corner in NEA. 
The Corners are invaluable as accessible sources of accurate 
information about the U.S., and as platforms for innovative 
public diplomacy programming. Each Corner contains roughly 
1,000 books, five Internet-accessible PCs, videocassettes, 
DVDs, CD-ROMS, a multimedia component system, and digital 
videoconferencing equipment.  The enthusiasm with which 
Omanis have received the Corners indicates a bright future 
for this program in a critical part of the Arab world. 
 
-------------------- 
A History Of Success 
-------------------- 
 
4. Although American Corners have only been in existence in 
Oman for a short time, the Embassy has produced successful 
programs at each of the five locations.  For example, the 
Modern College of Business and Science's American Corner was 
the venue for lectures by an Embassy Science Fellow on 
environmental issues, a DVC by the noted Native American 
storyteller Gayle Ross to celebrate the opening of the 
National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, and 
the highly successful NEA-funded American Corners Directors 
Workshop.  The Salalah American Corner, located in a private 
English-language training institute, hosted a two-day 
Internet workshop for English teachers.  The Corner in the 
northern border town of Al-Buraimi was one of the 
programming venues for the ECA Cultural Envoys Omari 
Faulkner and Courtland Freeman in November.  All of the 
Corners held viewings of documentary films and discussions 
on the U.S. Presidential elections. 
 
---------------------------------- 
More Events Just Around The Corner 
---------------------------------- 
 
5. The Embassy plans numerous additional programs at the 
Corners in the coming months.  Specifically, visiting 
American Fulbrighters will conduct presentations on "Islam 
in America" and "American Values."  The Embassy's English 
Language Fellow will offer workshops to Omani educators on 
such topics as "English For Specific Purposes" and "Language 
Assessment."  Both the Regional English Language Officer 
(RELO) and Regional Information Resources Officer (RIRO) 
will conduct presentations and workshops at several Corners 
in FY05, with topics ranging from "Internet Search 
Techniques" to "Teaching Techniques to Enhance Reading 
Comprehension."  In addition, the Embassy's Educational 
Advisor will visit each Corner regularly to engage in 
outreach and recruitment activities.  The Embassy also plans 
to program a variety of speakers at the Corners, including a 
Black History Month speaker for February 2005. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
You Can't Have Too Much Of A Good Thing 
--------------------------------------- 
 
6. The dean of Muscat's Higher College of Technology, a 
vocational college enrolling over 3,000 lower income male 
and female students, recently expressed to the Ambassador 
and PAO his keen interest in strengthening the college's 
ties with the United States, improving the English language 
skills of students, and broadening the students' 
understanding of the U.S.  A potential avenue for achieving 
these aims is to install an American Corner in the 
multimedia resource center of the college.  If funded, this 
American Corner, our first in a technical college, would 
increase the Embassy's access to non-elite Omanis, a target 
audience for us since the September 11 attacks.  Another 
proposed site for an American Corner is Oman's most 
prestigious educational institution, Sultan Qaboos 
University (SQU).  SQU has informed the Embassy of its 
willingness to host a Corner.  The university attracts 
Oman's best students [enrollment approximately 12,000] and 
offers degrees in a wide range of disciplines. 
 
--------------- 
Funding Corners 
--------------- 
 
7. The addition of two American Corners would substantially 
contribute to the Embassy's MPP goal of favorably 
influencing Omani public opinion about the U.S. and 
broadening understanding of American society and values, 
while simultaneously bolstering our cultural and academic 
outreach efforts.  Each of Muscat's five existing American 
Corners cost approximately USD $54,000, and were funded by 
the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and 
Public Affairs (R).  The budget for each proposed Corner 
would be substantially less because computers, furniture and 
other start-up items are already in place at both locations. 
Our estimated start-up cost for the proposed Higher College 
of Technology and Sultan Qaboos University American Corners 
is $33,000 each.  The budget breaks down in this way: 
 
- $14,000 for collection of book titles 
- $11,000 for DVC equipment 
- $3,000 for DVD and videocassette collection 
- $2,000 for multimedia component system 
- $2,000 for CD-ROM collection 
- $1,000 for miscellaneous expenses 
 
Total:  $33,0000 
 
8.  Action requested:  The Embassy requests that "R" and NEA 
fund both proposed Corners at the indicated levels. Our top 
priority is the Higher College because of its heavy use and 
focus on non-elite students. 
 
BALTIMORE