US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1190

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, IO/PSC (LMALENAS), AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, International Organizations 
SUBJECT: OMAN OPPOSES G-4 RESOLUTION, STUDIES OTHER REFORMS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 137602 AND PREVIOUS 
 
     B. MUSCAT 1149 
     C. SECSTATE 114051 
     D. SECSTATE 130530 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (b, d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The MFA's International Organizations Department Chief 
confirmed on July 27 that Oman will either oppose or abstain 
in any vote on the G-4 Resolution for UN Security Council 
expansion.  Ambassador Talib al-Raisi added that Oman has 
actively urged the resident G-4 ambassadors not to put the 
motion forward for a vote, despite Oman's support for their 
individual candidacies.  Ambassador Talib indicated that Oman 
is still reviewing other UN reform initiatives, but suggested 
possible support for the USG position on a new Peacebuilding 
Commission, while the Human Rights Commission proposal 
remains more controversial.  End summary. 
 
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To Abstain or Oppose G-4 Resolution 
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2. (C) The Embassy delivered ref A demarche on July 27 to MFA 
Chief of International Organizations Department Ambassador 
Talib bin Miran al-Raisi.  Amb. Talib reported that the 
Ministry was initially divided on the G-4 Resolution, with 
their mission in New York advocating in favor of it as the 
"most realistic" option, while Amb. Talib and his department 
opposed it as unlikely to gain two-thirds support in the 
General Assembly.  As the resolution became more 
controversial internationally, Minister Yusuf bin Alawi sided 
with the IO Department's argument.  Amb. Talib convoked the 
German, Indian, and Japanese ambassadors (Brazil does not 
have a local embassy) and said in diplomatic terms that, 
while Oman supported their candidacies to the UNSC, the 
Sultanate "advised" them that this was not an auspicious time 
to bring their resolution to a vote; if they did, Oman might 
be forced "to take a different position."  The G-3 pushed 
back, though the Japanese Ambassador in a separate meeting 
with MFA Under Secretary Sayyid Badr seemed to agree with the 
Omani assessment. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador Talib confirmed that, if a vote on the G-4 
Resolution were brought forward, Oman would either abstain or 
vote against.  Oman advocates a more gradual, step-by-step 
process for UNSC expansion.  Amb. Talib also indicated that 
UNSYG Annan seemed to be putting particular urgency on UNSC 
reform in the hopes of accomplishing it before the end of his 
tenure, which Oman views as being a rash and artificial 
deadline.  The IO chief was not aware of whether there was an 
Arab League consensus on the G-4 proposal, guessing that the 
AL might be waiting for indications of how the African Union 
might decide.  He nevertheless indicated that Oman would 
stick to its current position regardless. 
 
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Peacebuilding Commission, Human Rights Committee 
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4. (C) Having previously provided the Ministry with USG views 
on a proposed Peacebuilding Commission and creation of a new 
Human Rights Council (refs C and D), we amplified our points 
with Amb. Talib and solicited the Sultanate's views.  He 
indicated that his department had drafted a comprehensive 
report on UN reform that was briefed to the Minister and 
Under Secretary.  The briefing paper was commissioned because 
of the confusing jumble created by the UNSYG's "In Larger 
Freedom" report and "reports on that report" that, he said, 
often had contradictory points.  Ambassador Talib was 
reluctant to get into detail on how the Omani briefing paper 
came out on the reform proposals, not being able to recall 
the salient points.  He undertook to have one of his deputies 
brief the embassy in the near future. 
 
5. (C) Ambassador Talib had a more favorable initial reaction 
to the Peacebuilding Commission points, saying he recalled 
that Oman took a very similar view to the U.S. demarche.  The 
Human Rights Commission was more controversial, pointing out 
that many third world nations had qualms about it.  We 
reiterated the need to have a credible and effective body 
with higher membership standards and more targeted scope. 
The IO Chief fully agreed that the CHR was of little use in 
its present guise and that it seemed to attract the worst 
human rights abusers among its membership. 
 
6. (U) The Embassy will report any follow-up responses from 
the Ministry on these issues. 
BALTIMORE