US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT631

S E C R E T MUSCAT 000631 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/DSS/OSAC, 
CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 
TAGS: AEMR, ASEC, AMGT, PTER, CASC, KHLS, MU, EAC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 04/16/2005 
 
REF: MUSCAT 0620 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. William R. Stewart. 
Reason: 1.4(c). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (SBU)  The CDA chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action 
Committee (EAC) April 16 to review the Embassy's security 
posture following the local weekend.  Members noted no 
substantive changes in the local security environment since 
the last meeting.  Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the 
Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON 
remain appropriate.  End Summary. 
 
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Security Situation 
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2.  (SBU)  On April 16, the CDA chaired a meeting of the EAC 
to review the Embassy's security posture following the local 
weekend.  The meeting opened with a discussion of the local 
security situation, which the EAC continued to characterize 
as stable.  Members noted no/no new threat reporting specific 
to Oman.  Likewise, the EAC cited no security incidents among 
their staffs or family members over the weekend, with no 
reported security incidents or security-related queries from 
the private American citizen community. 
 
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Warden Meeting 
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3.  (SBU)  CDA briefed the EAC on the highlights of the April 
11 warden meeting hosted by the Embassy's Consular section. 
CDA, CONS, and RSO staff attended the meeting which addressed 
the current security environment, Warden Messages, Public 
Announcements and Travel Warnings, and internet-based 
registration system for American citizens. 
 
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Upcoming Events 
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4.  (SBU)  The EAC reviewed upcoming events, to include joint 
visits by the USS Firebolt and USS Typhoon to Port Sultan 
Qaboos, from April 18-20.  Security for the ship visits is 
being coordinated with the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard. 
 
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Sustained Vigilance 
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5.  (SBU)  Prior to concluding the meeting, RSO reiterated 
that, despite the relative calm, members of the EAC must 
continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members 
the need for vigilance regarding all aspects of personal 
security - to include maintaining a low profile and remaining 
unpredictable.  RSO further re-emphasized the importance of 
immediately reporting all suspicious activity or 
security-related incidents to Post One. 
 
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Conclusion 
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6.  (S/NF)  The EAC concluded that there have been no 
substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the 
local security environment since the last meeting held on 
April 13 (reftel).  Accordingly, members agreed that the 
Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON 
remain appropriate.  Embassy Muscat remains acutely aware of 
the need to monitor both the regional and local security and 
threat environments, and is prepared to take the necessary 
countermeasures should changes to either occur.  CDA, MGT, 
P/E, PAO, RSO, ARSO, CONS, RMAS, OMC (USDR), DAO, and ECA 
(USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. 
STEWART