US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1355

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 001355 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO, DRL, AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, MU, International Organizations 
SUBJECT: OMANI VIEWS ON UN REFORM ISSUES, MDA 
 
REF: MUSCAT 1303 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: DCM William R. Stewart. 
Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) On September 5, the Omani MFA IO Chief reiterated the 
Sultanate's opposition to the G-4 plan for UN Security 
Council expansion.  While sympathizing with USG views on a 
proposed Human Rights Council and Peacebuilding Commission, 
he forecast that Oman would remain on the sidelines of those 
debates for as long as possible.  While he did not anticipate 
imminent Arab acceptance of the Israeli Magen David Adom into 
the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, he indicated, however, 
Omani impatience with the matter and a desire to move beyond 
it.  End summary. 
 
2. (U) On September 5, Pol/Econ Chief discussed a range of UN 
issues (septels) with MFA International Organizations 
Department Chief Ambassador Talib bin Miran al-Raisi. 
Ambassador al-Raisi provided a brief update to previous 
conversations on key UN reform matters. 
 
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Human Rights Council, Peacebuilding 
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3. (C) Regarding proposals to establish a new UN Human Rights 
Council and a Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador al-Raisi 
expressed sympathy for the USG position.  He said that he had 
included USG talking points in a position paper he prepared 
for FM Yusuf bin Alawi and the MFA Under Secretary on those 
subjects.  Ambassador al-Raisi indicated that he was 
personally strongly sympathetic to the idea of a streamlined 
and effective Human Rights Council.  He cautioned, however, 
that MFA leadership had opted not to come out decisively in 
favor of any particular proposal, but rather to keep its 
options open as the debate evolves in New York. 
 
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Security Council Expansion 
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4. (C) Ambassador al-Raisi reiterated his previous assurance 
that Oman opposed the G-4 model for UNSC expansion, and that 
the Sultanate would continue to urge the G-4 not to push its 
proposal any further. 
 
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MDA: Source of Frustration 
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5. (C) Concerning recognition of the Israeli Magen David Adom 
(MDA) by the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red 
Crescent societies, Ambassador al-Raisi noted that the issue 
involved several departments within the Foreign Ministry 
besides his own.  He said it had been discussed at the OIC 
Ministerial in Sanaa in June, only to be tabled for 
discussion at a later date.  Until then, Ambassador al-Raisi 
was not sanguine on prospects for pronounced movement.  He 
noted, however, that trends among Arab states seemed to be 
moving in favor of admitting MDA and putting the issue behind 
them.  P/E Chief noted that such indications are commonplace, 
yet nobody seems willing to step forward and break the ice. 
Ambassador al-Raisi replied that FM Yusuf bin Alawi made a 
blistering intercession along those lines at the Sanaa OIC 
ministerial, coming away highly frustrated with his peers. 
P/E Chief noted the planned Swiss-convened September 12-13 
Red Cross/Red Crescent consultations in Geneva, and hoped 
that Oman might by then be in a position to help. 
BALTIMORE