US embassy cable - 04MUSCAT2269

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 002269 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, AND IO 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, ASEC, MU, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM ACTION GROUP DEMARCHE 
 
REF: STATE 269653 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
1. (C)  In a December 27 meeting with Minister Responsible 
for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (YBA), the Ambassador 
urged on behalf of the G-8 and EU missions Oman's 
ratification of the final two of twelve international 
counterterrorism conventions (reftel).  The Ambassador noted 
that the Foreign Ministry has been assuring the G-8 for more 
than a year that Oman's ratification of the Convention for 
the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the 
Convention of the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings was 
imminent.  The Minister acknowledged the G-8's sustained 
interest in the matter, but deferred inquiries to the MFA's 
Chief of International Organizations Department, Ambassador 
Talib bin Miran al-Raisi, as the responsible official. 
(Note: The Embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry 
December 21 urging ratification of the outstanding two 
conventions.  End note.) 
 
2. (C/Rel UK)  A/DCM has consulted several times on the 
matter with UK DCM Charles Hill, who will be taking over 
operational responsibility for CTAG activities for 2005 when 
Britain assumes CTAG chairmanship.  Hill (who arrived in 
Muscat only in November) was grateful for our providing him 
copies of our CTAG documents for the year 2004, and noted 
that he had received instructions from London to convene the 
first local CTAG meeting under the chairmanship of his 
Ambassador before January 19.  While leaving the matter to 
the G-8 Ambassadors to decide, A/DCM suggested to Hill that 
the CTAG consider requesting a group meeting with Ambassador 
Talib to further emphasize interest in Oman's ratification of 
the two conventions.  Hill considered the idea a viable 
suggestion, noting that the April 2005 CTAG meeting is to be 
devoted to issues of terror finance in the Middle East region. 
BALTIMORE