US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1493

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001493 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, KMPI, ECON, PHUM, MU, Domestic Politics 
SUBJECT: DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY FOR OMAN - QUARTERLY 
REPORT 
 
REF: A. STATE 152818 
     B. MUSCAT 792 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. 
Reason: 1.4 (d). 
 
1. (SBU) The following quarterly update on mission 
implementation of the Oman Democratic Reform Strategy is 
keyed to the three goals established in ref A, namely: 
legislative strengthening, media reform and NGO empowerment. 
 
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Legislative Strengthening 
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2. (C) The DCM-chaired MEPI Committee has formulated a 
strategy for supporting Oman's proto-parliament (the Majlis 
al-Shura) as it evolves into a true legislature.  The 
development of the Majlis al-Shura from a wholly appointed 
talking shop to a completely elected consultative council has 
been slow but steady.  We plan to continue to work closely 
with the Majlis al-Shura and with other actors, including the 
International Republican Institute (IRI), to continue its 
development into a genuine, democratic and truly 
representative institution. 
 
3. (C) Embassy officers over the next quarter will continue 
to engage key parliamentarians of both chambers to identify 
practical measures to help bring about the evolution of a 
genuine legislature.  Based on previous conversations, we 
intend to: 
 
a) Encourage Majlis al-Shura deputies to hold public hearings 
with concerned citizens to elevate the Majlis al-Shura's 
public standing and profile; 
 
b) Assist the adoption of a set of parliamentary rules, akin 
to the Jordanian model; 
 
c) Promote the unification of the two separate houses' 
secretariats; 
 
SIPDIS 
 
d) Follow up on an informal proposal to work with the 
Ministry of Social Development on a voter education campaign 
with a local women,s NGO prior to the 2007 elections. 
 
4. (C) Actions This Quarter: 
 
-- Ongoing discussions with Majlis al-Shura staff that 
identified some of the measures listed in paragraph 3; 
 
-- Informal consultations with Foreign Ministry supporters of 
MEPI activities; 
 
-- Consultations with International Republican Institute; 
 
-- Embassy hosted visit of NEA/PI David Mulenex to confer on 
strategy and meet with Omani contacts. 
 
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Media Reform 
------------ 
 
5. (C) The MEPI Committee has formulated an action strategy 
for the coming quarter and beyond.  Embassy officers will 
engage key media interlocutors to unify an approach for 
reforming the government's existing means for controlling the 
media, through both deregulation and privatization.  Key 
players will include senior management of existing media 
firms, and investors with pending license applications for 
new media outlets including radio stations.  A technical 
assistance package might be required. 
 
6. (C) Actions This Quarter: 
 
-- Consultations with Foreign Ministry; 
 
-- Strategy adopted by MEPI Committee. 
 
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NGO Empowerment 
--------------- 
 
7.  (C) With the goal of increasing public space for NGOs and 
advocacy groups, and expanding the number of registered NGOs 
to 25 by December 2006, the MEPI Committee has adopted a 
two-pronged strategy of working both with the Ministry of 
Social Development, which regulates NGOs. 
 
8. (C) Actions This Quarter (or before): 
 
-- We succeeded in obtaining a request from the Minister of 
Social Development last May to place a bilingual U.S. advisor 
in her ministry, who will hopefully serve as a catalyst to 
expedite the NGO registration process and improve the 
efficacy of existing NGOs; 
 
-- We facilitated appointments with NGOs such as Vital Voices 
for the Minister of Social Development when she traveled to 
New York in September as part of Oman's delegation to the UN 
Summit; 
 
-- The Embassy hosted the September visit of NEA/PI David 
Mulenex who held some highly productive meetings that 
identified how the Ministry could work with MEPI, especially 
re the Ministry,s efforts to empower women; 
-- The Embassy secured MEPI support for sponsoring a MEPI 
booth at the first-ever "Women's Expo" to take place in 
Muscat in mid-December; 
 
-- The Ministry of Social Development registered a new 
professional association, the Omani Internal Auditors 
Association in August; 
 
-- An embassy event brought together NGO and Ministry of 
Social Development representatives who initiated an informal 
discussion of the constraints facing NGOs; 
 
-- The Embassy has reached out to Oman women who have formed 
an informal NGO advisory committee to assist the Minister of 
Social Development. 
 
9. (C) Our plans for near-term next steps include: 
 
-- Replying to the Ministry of Social Development's concept 
paper for a technical advisor; 
 
-- Submitting a detailed scope of work for both the advisor 
and for technical assistance to the Oman Women's 
Associations; 
 
-- Publicizing 2005 MEPI Small Grants for two local NGOs to 
spur further interest in NGO and advocacy groups; 
 
-- Requesting a training program for NGOs on how to recruit, 
manage and motivate volunteers; 
 
-- Soliciting proposals for 2006 MEPI Small Grants. 
BALTIMORE