US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1171

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, OPRC, XF, MU, International Relations, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: BIN ALAWI UPBEAT ON DEFEATING TERRORISM 
 
REF: MUSCAT 1051 
 
1. Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi 
extensively devoted his July 23 Renaissance Day remarks, 
typically used to review the ministry's achievements in the 
preceding year, to the international problem of terrorism. 
Speaking to Radio Oman's "Festival Nights" program from his 
residence in Salalah, the minister struck a positive tone 
about the situation.  The political crisis in which the world 
finds itself as a result of terrorist attacks, he claims, is 
nearing its end because "the war on terrorism has become open 
and direct between extremist forces, on the one hand, and the 
world on the other hand... and we cannot imagine that 
regional extremist forces would defeat the whole world." 
 
2. The minister alluded that the lessons learned in the war 
on terror would serve the interest of stability and instill a 
tougher defense against "destabilizing and demoralizing 
factors."  He called for maximum efforts to guarantee the 
development of nations, lauding the efforts of Sultan Qaboos 
and the Omani public in ensuring security and stability in 
the Sultanate.  (Note: See reftel for the minister's recent 
comments on a number of other regional issues in an interview 
with a UAE-based newspaper.  End note.) 
BALTIMORE