US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT993

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000993 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/PD (CWHITTLESEY), NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS), IIP/T/EM 
(RURBANCZYK, CBOWIE, DCARTER), IIP/G/NEA-SA (RWINCHESTER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE 
 
 
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Summary 
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1. Embassy Muscat formally launched its new website at a well- 
attended ceremony on June 18.  After remarks from the Ambassador, 
the Embassy's webmaster conducted a guided tour of the site. 
This new Internet presence significantly upgrades our 
informational outreach capabilities.  End summary. 
 
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Navigating The New Site 
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2. On June 18, in front of a standing-room-only crowd in the 
Embassy's multipurpose hall, the Ambassador formally launched the 
Embassy's new website: http://oman.usembassy.gov.  Reminding the 
guests that the terms "googling" and "logging on" meant nothing a 
mere twenty years ago, the Ambassador referenced the astounding 
growth in Internet usage in the Middle East over the past five 
years and invited Omanis to visit the new website for up-to-date 
and accurate information about the United States.  Following the 
Ambassador's remarks, the Embassy's webmaster projected the 
website onto a screen and pointed out several features of the 
site for the audience, including the Washington File (updated 
automatically on a daily basis), descriptions of our various 
academic exchange programs, and links to the Embassy's 
educational advising services. 
 
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The Media Go Exploring 
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3. Journalists and photographers were in attendance at the 
ceremony, and four of Oman's six major dailies carried coverage 
of the event the next morning, complete with photos.  "Al- 
Shabiba," an Arabic-language daily newspaper designed for younger 
readers, did the Embassy an incalculable service by highlighting 
the new website's URL within its banner headline. 
 
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Opening Windows 
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4. With this launch, Embassy Muscat joins the other embassies and 
consulates worldwide that use the Content Management System (CMS) 
to administer their websites.  Boasting an attractive template 
and an organized format, oman.usembassy.gov represents a 
substantial upgrade for our informational outreach capabilities. 
The Embassy thanks the IIP/T/EM team for its assistance in 
preparing for the launch. 
 
BALTIMORE