VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMS #0782/01 1361133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161133Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6531

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000782 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL/IL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER ELAB MU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT NOMINATION FOR LABOR DIPLOMACY AWARD 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 61595 
 
     ¶B. SECSTATE 67526 
     ¶C. MUSCAT 588 
     ¶D. 05 MUSCAT 766 
     ¶E. 05 MUSCAT 209 
 
¶1.  U.S. Embassy Muscat is pleased to nominate Pol/LaborOff 
Cynthia L. Plath for the 2006 Labor Diplomacy Officer of the 
Year Award in recognition of her outstanding support of USG 
labor and human rights policies in Oman.  Her dedication, 
initiative and responsive reporting were invaluable to the 
successful negotiation of the US-Oman Free Trade Agreement 
(FTA) and have built a solid foundation for future 
cooperation with Oman's growing labor union movement. 
 
---------------------------- 
US-Oman Free Trade Agreement 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Ms. Plath's insightful, analytical and proactive 
reporting of labor trends and developments have been integral 
to the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) successful 
negotiation of the FTA and in implementing the President's 
vision of the Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA).  Her 
prolific reporting has been instrumental in the Department of 
Labor's (DOL) ability to draft relevant and needs-based 
proposals for technical assistance, and the Embassy's ability 
to respond to ongoing Congressional requests for labor 
information (reftel D).  Assistant United States Trade 
Representative (A/USTR) for Labor Lewis Karesh was so pleased 
with Ms. Plath's work throughout the laborious FTA 
negotiations that, in a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to 
Oman, he said, "Cynthia has been a tremendous resource on 
Omani labor law, providing information to respond to 
Congressional inquiries and support ratification of the FTA." 
 
¶3.  Her extensive reporting and detailed policy work with the 
Under Secretary of the Ministry of Manpower was likewise 
recognized by the Department of Labor (reftel B) in a glowing 
assessment.  "Ms. Plath has provided a steady and needed 
stream of information and data about Omani labor law, 
conditions, and procedures necessary for the completion of 
the Department of labor-authored "Meaningful Labor Rights 
Report" mandated by Congress.  Cynthia has responded very 
promptly and in detail to our numerous requests for 
information....  She's made a diligent effort to track down 
data and clarify ambiguities in our understanding of Omani 
labor laws and practice.  The Department of Labor is 
extremely grateful for her excellent contributions." 
 
---------------------------- 
MEPI Regional Labor Dialogue 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  One of the Embassy's most significant achievements of 
2005 was the hugely successful Middle East Partnership 
Initiative (MEPI) Regional Labor Dialogue.  In direct support 
of Embassy Muscat's Mission Performance Plan and advancement 
of U.S. foreign policy, the Dialogue focused attention on the 
role of labor in a democracy and raised awareness of the 
importance of meeting international labor standards. 
 
¶5.  In preparing for this unprecedented conference in Oman, 
Ms. Plath worked tirelessly with a number of agencies to 
organize and develop agendas and guest lists, manage travel 
logistics for 200 guests and nine ministers of labor, 
negotiate hotel savings of over $10,000, arrange policy 
meetings with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor ministers, 
attend strategy planning sessions with the International 
Labor Organization (ILO), and facilitate private sector 
meetings with some of Oman's most influential businessmen and 
labor committee representatives.  She skillfully managed the 
competing interests and simultaneous visits of multiple 
government agencies while working around the clock managing 
an intra-agency team responsible for organizing 
presentations, assembling over 200 binders, greeting 
participants, setting up multiple conference facilities, 
facilitating over 8,000 pages of photocopying, and working 
with hotel staff around the clock to manage often overlooked 
details such as table placement, audio-visual services, 
catering and rooms. 
 
------------------------- 
Innovative Problem Solver 
------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Ms. Plath has been stalwart in promoting U.S. labor 
policy and has significantly enhanced USG understanding of 
Omani labor practices through numerous initiatives, including 
hosting regular lunches and meetings with labor contacts, 
committee members, and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officials, 
as well as by hosting roundtable discussions with the private 
sector and performing outreach to new unions.  Ms. Plath 
regularly nominates candidates to participate in 
State-sponsored events, as well as regional events hosted by 
NGOs such the Solidarity Center.  She has nominated six 
candidates for the International Visitor Program and was 
successful in convincing the MOM to accept a U.S. Fulbright 
scholar to assist in policy research and implementation of 
recent ILO reform commitments. 
 
----------------------- 
"Honorary" Union Member 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  It was through Ms. Plath's persistent outreach and 
initiative that Embassy Muscat has developed the most 
extensive and accessible contacts in the labor movement in 
Oman.  Her patient and sustained cultivation of contacts at 
the MOM has resulted in unparalleled access to MOM 
proceedings, plans, and staff, most notable of which has 
included her regular meetings with the Under Secretary for 
Labor.  This relationship has been invaluable in promoting 
international labor standards required to pass the FTA and in 
obtaining specific documents and unpublished material, such 
as draft Occupational Safety and Health Regulations.  More 
importantly, her relationship with MOM officials has made it 
easier to cut through bureaucratic obstacles and facilitate 
quick and easy access for policy discussion, including for 
high-level visitors such a Deputy Under Secretary of Labor 
and two Assistant U.S. Trade Representatives. 
 
¶8.  Ms. Plath spends a considerable amount of time developing 
contacts and meeting with union representatives throughout 
Oman.  These confidences have resulted in specific and 
responsive reporting to the MEPI office (NEA/PI), the 
Department of Labor and USTR, and exchanges with the ILO on 
the latest labor developments (reftel C).  Her dedicated 
support of the growing union movement in Oman has been 
instrumental in securing long-awaited technical assistance, 
including a recent MEPI small grant submission to provide 
voter outreach and education for upcoming union elections. 
Moreover, her regular outreach to labor attaches from 
third-country embassies helps keep the Embassy abreast of 
developments within the expatriate labor force and has 
resulted in more comprehensive human rights, labor, and 
trafficking in person reporting (reftel E). 
 
¶9.  This Embassy joins the Department of Labor, USTR, and the 
State Department in our pride over Ms. Plath's 
accomplishments, which we feel amply merits her selection as 
Labor Diplomacy Officer of the Year.  This nomination has 
been enthusiastically endorsed by the Embassy's Awards 
Committee and approved by the Ambassador. 
GRAPPO