[Oman-L] Oman news from GulfWire #114 (24-30 Sep 2001)

[Joachim Duester]

The following are some excerpts relative to Oman from GulfWire
No. 114 (24-30 Sept 2001). Source: http://www.arabialink.com/GulfWire/
(sorry for the delay in sending these excerpts which should have been mailed  
three weeks ago already).


QABOOS CALLS FOR ERADICATING TERRORISM
He said Oman was working with all nations to solidify international
stability and security - and upon this conviction it condemned and rejected
terrorism.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1562000/1562718.stm
http://www.omanet.com/US-OMAN.htm
http://www.omanet.com/sqspeech.htm

QABOOS CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL EFFORT AGAINST TERRORISM
"We call upon all to counter terrorism and remedy its causes," said the
Omani monarch, while addressing the annual joint session of parliament
called the Council of Oman.
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=27431

OMAN BLAMES TALIBAN FOR AFGHANISTAN CRISIS
The Sultanate of Oman has blamed the Taliban for the deepening crisis in
Afghanistan. "Since the Sultanate does not recognize the Taliban regime, it
is not obliged in any way towards the Taliban or what the Taliban do," said
Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister for Foreign Affairs who represented
Oman at the extraordinary meeting of GCC foreign ministers in Jeddah on
September 23.
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=27361

BIGGEST-EVER MILITARY EXERCISE IN OMAN
Nearly 40,000 Omani and British servicemen will participate in the
biggest-ever peacetime military drill in the Sultanate next month.  Some
8,000 British soldiers had already arrived in Oman. the joint Oman-Britain
military exercise, titled "Swift Sword 2", from October 15, would go ahead
as scheduled despite last week's terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington. The war games, to be held over a 200-square-kilometer area
northeast of the Sultanate's central region, will involve 14,000 Omani and
24,000 British troops. A total of 154 aircraft, 114 from Britain and 40 from
the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), including Jaguars and Hawks, will be
deployed together with 27 British and 11 Omani ships. .The exercise, which
will last until the end of October and make use of the latest military
technology, is aimed at "enhancing the Sultan's Armed Forces' capability in
terms of organization and equipment and training".
Source: KhaleejTimes.com

BRITISH CARRIER TO MEET SHIPS IN GULF
A group of some 20 British ships gathering in the Persian Gulf ahead of
two-week war games with Oman set for mid-October. Britain says the games
were organized well before the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States,
but it has offered to participate in a military force being assembled by
Washington for a campaign against terrorists. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15374-2001Sep24.html


QABOOS RECEIVES CALL FROM BUSH ON REGIONAL SITUATION
They reviewed the existing cooperation between the two countries and issues
of concern in the international arena.
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=27210

U.S. AMBASSADORS IN THE GULF
... are rotating at a critical time as the United States is building a
political coalition for its war on terrorism and reinforcing its troops in
the region. Routine ambassadorial changes are happening in Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain ... Ambassador to Oman John Bruce Craig
has ended his duty and is leaving soon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23815-2001Sep25.html

QABOOS HONORS U.S. ENVOY
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has conferred the Al Nauman Order
(First Class), Oman's highest civil award, on John Bruce Craig, the U.S.
ambassador, in recognition of his distinguished services in promoting
relations between the two countries during his tenure.
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=27280