US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT364

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000364 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA, NEA/ARPI 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2015 
TAGS: PREL, SY, LE, EG, MU, International Relations 
SUBJECT: OMAN PRESSURES SARG ON LEBANON WITHDRAWAL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
1. (C) Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin 
Alawi convoked the Ambassador on February 28, just prior to 
departing for the March 1 London Conference on Palestine, to 
recount the steps he had taken to encourage Syrian withdrawal 
from Lebanon.  He said that Egypt had sought his help to send 
a strong signal to Damascus.  As a result, the Minister 
drafted a note to Syrian FM Shara'a (followed-up with a phone 
call) in which he: 
 
-- urged Syria's withdrawal from Lebanese territory; 
-- suggested that the SARG cease sending mixed signals on its 
intentions (noting conflicting statements from the Ministries 
of Defense and Foreign Affairs) by convening all the 
Ambassadors resident in Damascus making Syrian policy in 
Lebanon clear, and 
-- recommended that Shara'a ask to be invited to the London 
Conference if they were not already included. 
 
2. (C) Bin Alawi said Shara'a responded that he would be 
willing to attend the London Conference in person, but 
apparently his decision came too late for an invitation to be 
issued.  Bin Alawi was nevertheless buoyant that the SARG 
seemed to be taking a constructive and positive approach in 
response to Oman's suggestions. 
 
3. (C) Comment: Bin Alawi's actions are very Omani in that he 
prefers to act behind the scenes and quietly.  While Oman is 
not known to have particularly close ties to Syria, its 
relationship with Egypt is strong, buttressed by the warm 
personal relations between the Sultan and President Mubarak. 
End comment. 
BALTIMORE