US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT331

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000331 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2015 
TAGS: EAID, KPAL, KWBG, ECON, EFIN, PREL, MU, XF, International Organizations 
SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE 
(200503121) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 32566 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
1. (C) The Secretary's oral message was delivered to the 
Foreign Ministry February 27, encouraging Oman's 
participation in the March 1 gathering in London, its support 
for the Palestinian Authority, and the reopening of trade 
offices in Israel and the Palestinian territories.  Minister 
Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi called the 
Ambassador later in the day to confirm that he was attending 
the London Conference.  Bin Alawi noted that he will depart 
Muscat on February 28, and follow his London visit with a 
stop in Cairo before returning to Oman on March 4 to join the 
Sultan's entourage in the interior. 
 
2. (C) Confirming a Jerusalem Post report of February 12, Bin 
Alawi told the Ambassador he had a phone conversation with 
Israeli FM Shalom following the February 8 Sharm el-Sheikh 
meeting.  The two agreed, he said, to keep in periodic 
contact to review the status of the peace process and to 
consult on how Oman could best encourage progress. 
 
3. (C) In response to the specific question of financial 
support for the Palestinian Authority, Bin Alawi said the 
topic is to be addressed at the Arab League summit in 
Algeria.  Although he could not peg a dollar figure re Oman's 
commitment, even without a decision at the AL summit, the 
Minister said that Oman would "continue its own support" for 
the PA. 
BALTIMORE