This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/UNESCO (MCNOVO), IO/PPC (RWILBUR) 
DEPT ALSO FOR EB/TPP/MTA (LCHASON), NEA/ARPI (RSMYTH) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD SCUL MU
SUBJECT: UNESCO CONVENTION: OMAN 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 19851 
     ¶B. 05 MUSCAT 1574 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (SBU) The ratification of international conventions by 
Oman can be a time-consuming process.  In light of Omani 
statements supporting USG interpretations of the UNESCO 
Convention and the pending ratification of the U.S.-Oman Free 
Trade Agreement, there is little reason to believe the 
Convention will be ratified by Oman any time soon.  There has 
been scant discussion of the Convention in the local media or 
within academic or civil society circles.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) The following information is keyed to ref A questions. 
 
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Treaty Approval Process/State of Play 
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¶3. (SBU)  Per ref B, the Omani Foreign Ministry closely 
coordinated its position on the Convention with the USG, 
issuing (as noted in ref A) a statement with its vote echoing 
USG views that the Convention cannot modify rights and 
obligations under other international agreements, including 
WTO.  It is standard practice that international conventions 
signed by the Sultanate are typically referred to an 
inter-ministerial committee that determines which other legal 
modifications are required prior to ratification, and what 
unanticipated equities might be affected.  Once the committee 
has finished its work and reported its findings, the material 
is reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs before 
submission to the full Council of Ministers.  Once approved 
by the cabinet, a royal decree is prepared for the Sultan's 
approval.  The issuance of that royal decree constitutes 
Oman's ratification of an agreement.  While some bilateral 
agreements can be ratified within a few months of signature, 
UN and other international conventions often take much 
longer.  A number of such international conventions have been 
pending Omani ratification for several years.  Given the 
Omani reservations to the Convention cited above, there is 
little reason to believe that this Convention is on the 
fast-track for ratification.  Moreover, as the U.S.-Oman Free 
Trade Agreement, signed on January 19 of this year, is still 
pending Congressional ratification, Oman would be less likely 
to take actions on trade matters that could complicate that 
process. 
 
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Media, Public Diplomacy 
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¶4. (SBU) The UNESCO Convention on Cultural Expressions has 
not to date been featured in the Omani media.  Moreover, as 
the ratification process is fully in the province of the 
Omani government (rather than a legislative body), there is 
little or no advantage to raising unnecessarily the subject's 
profile among the Omani public.  As esoteric trade regimes 
are typically more difficult to explain than populist notions 
of "defending culture," publicity on the matter could be 
hijacked against USG interests.  Within Oman's small civil 
society community, there are no NGO's that would likely take 
up a pro-Convention stance.  There is a non-governmental Oman 
Economic Association, centered around the academic community, 
that has not discussed the Convention (to our knowledge), but 
that would likely have at least some sympathy for USG 
concerns over the text. 
 
¶5. (SBU) P/E Chief has a tentative appointment with the MFA 
International Organizations Department Chief for the week of 
February 18 to discuss, inter alia, the ratification status 
of two outstanding UN counter-terror conventions.  Any 
insights the MFA official might divulge concerning the status 
of the UNESCO Convention will be reported. 
BALTIMORE