US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT279

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000279 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR T, NP/RA, PM, NEA/RA, NEA/ARPI 
SECDEF FOR OUSD(P) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2015 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, KNNP, EWWT, MASS, MU 
SUBJECT: PSI: TECHNICAL-LEVEL COOPERATION ON TRACK 
 
REF: MUSCAT 232 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (S) A senior MFA official reiterated Oman's cooperation 
across the range of proliferation and border security 
activities, including a PSI-related air interdiction exercise 
later this month.  He voiced the MFA's firm support for PSI, 
and his confidence that Oman's military and police were 
similarly on board. He pledged to work with the Embassy to 
seek further clarification of his government's February 9 
note verbale. We are also coordinating with the British who 
believe it is more important to watch what the Omanis do 
rather than what they say. End summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Cooperation Going Forward 
------------------------- 
 
2. (S) Ministry of Foreign Affairs International 
Organizations Department chief Ambassador Talib Miran 
al-Raisi received P/E Chief on short notice February 15 to 
discuss the Omani note verbale of February 9 (reftel) 
regarding the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). 
Ambassador al-Raisi, MFA's top official on UN, international 
convention and legal regimes (and a key Embassy interlocutor 
on past agreements), emphasized at the outset of the meeting 
that Oman's robust technical-level cooperation with the USG 
on a range of proliferation and border security programs is 
going forward without interruption, including a planned 
PSI-related air interdiction exercise as part of the Accurate 
Test/Beacon Flash exercises beginning February 19. 
 
------------------------- 
MFA, MOD and ROP on Board 
------------------------- 
 
3. (S) Ambassador al-Raisi agreed that the Omani note 
requires further clarification.  He confided that his 
department had written a detailed brief, using clear and 
simple language, recommending the Sultanate's participation 
in the PSI.  That brief received the approval of Minister 
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi, and was 
forwarded (per standard practice) to the Ministry of Legal 
Affairs on October 30, 2004, for clearance and onward 
transmission to the Council of Ministers.  Ambassador 
al-Raisi said the MFA received the response as conveyed in 
its note to us on January 11, 2005 (reftel). 
 
4. (S) Noting the active cooperation between the USG and the 
Sultanate's Armed Forces, the Royal Oman Police-Coast Guard, 
and civilian ministries on export control and border 
security, Ambassador al-Raisi was certain PSI had the support 
of those agencies. Ambassador Talib, who is departing shortly 
to attend OIC meetings in Jeddah for a week, underscored the 
MFA's support for PSI and pledged to work closely with the 
Embassy in bringing greater clarity to the government's 
position. 
 
5. (S) The Ambassador subsequently discussed the Omani note 
with the UK Ambassador who received the same text and has 
been active in urging Oman's participation in PSI.  The 
initial British interpretation is that it is more important 
to watch what the Omanis do rather than what they say. 
Nevertheless, both ambassadors agreed it would be better to 
obtain a clarification and will coordinate with each other to 
do so. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
6. (S) We have seen absolutely no change in the Omani 
government's complete commitment to bilateral activities with 
us across a range of border security and proliferation 
control programs.  The Royal Oman Air Force's participation 
in a PSI-related event later this month, in fact, marks a 
watershed in the Sultanate's PSI engagement.  We are hopeful 
that the note verbale is nothing more than a poorly worded 
recommitment on Oman's part to quiet engagement on PSI, and 
will continue to work to refine that stance. 
BALTIMORE