Foreign Affairs

Oman's foreign policy Oman's foreign policy is based on a clearly-defined set of principles that encourage the building of bridges with other nations and, wherever possible, the opening up of opportunities for increased co-operation.

The Sultanate has sought to play a constructive and influential role in the international arena, applying principles which form the basis of international law and legitimacy, such as respect for sovereignty, noninterference in the internal affairs of other states, a commitment to good neighbourly relations and the resolution of all differences and disputes by peaceful means.

By fostering peace, security, stability and confidence at home and with its neighbours, Oman's foreign policy has evolved to become an instrument for promoting economic and social development.

Gulf Relations

The Sultanate enjoys a special relationship with its fellow Arab Gulf Co-operation Council (AGCC) member states ( Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE), with which it shares strong traditional ties. The AGCC Supreme Council's advisory body is based in Muscat and the country enjoys the trust and respect of other member states.

The Sultanate is a staunch and active champion of Gulf identity and citizenship, it welcomes the increased co-operation between the AGCC member states and the Republic of Yemen, and enjoys excellent relations with its neighbour, the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Sultan Qaboos attended the 26th Arab Gulf Co-operation Council Summit in Abu Dhabi on 18 and 19 December 2005 - the "Fahd Summit"- and earlier in the year visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates followed by the State of Qatar in May, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait in June.

Visitors to the Sultanate included Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, in January 2005, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai on two occasions. HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, in March, and HH Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Crown Prince and General Commander of Bahrain's Defence Forces in November 2005.HM King Hamad bin Issa al Khalifa of Bahrain visited on 1/1/2006 and on 21/05/2006 HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al Nahyan, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister arrived to meet His Majesty.

Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, attended the 8th AGCC Consultative Summit in Riyadh on 6th May 2006, while Sayyid As'ad bin Tariq Al Said, attended the third extraordinary Islamic Summit in Makkah on 8 December 2005.

There were a number of exchange visits between the Sultanate and the AGCC states, the Republic of Yemen and the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which views were exchanged on a range of bilateral, Gulf, regional, and other issues. The Sultanate opened a Consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah in 2006, to reinforce the close and growing relationship between Oman and the Kingdom.

Arab world relations

The Sultanate supports joint Arab action through the Arab League and initiatives to improve the League's performance and make it more effective. At the same time it attaches great importance to developing its own relations with other Arab states, whether bilaterally or collectively, and joint committees between the Sultanate and various other Arab countries play an important part in promoting this agenda.

In working for peace and stability in the Arab region, Oman strongly backs the Palestinian people's efforts to gain their legitimate rights and gives wholehearted support to their efforts in the regional and international arenas. It condemns Israel's repressive practices, which increase tension in the Occupied Territories, and calls for the implementation of international resolutions and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Muscat in December 2004 and Khalid Mashaal, head of the Hamas movement's political office, visited in April 2006.

With regard to developments in Iraq, the Sultanate supports the current political process there, which aims to achieve the stability necessary to enable the new Iraqi government to achieve national unity and territorial integrity. The Sultanate supports all efforts to rebuild the country and bring its' people relief from suffering.

King Abdullah 11 bin al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan visited the Sultanate in March 2005 and Sultan Qaboos visited the Arab Republic of Egypt in May the same year. The Sultanate received visits from Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed al Ghannoushi in September 2005 and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora in December. There were also numerous additional exchange visits at ministerial and other levels.

HH The Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers and his delegation attended the 18th Arab Summit which was held in Khartoum, Sudan on 28/03/2006.

The Sultanate hosted a range of activities, including Arab economic, cultural, tourism, scientific and art forums, as part of its "Muscat - Arab Culture Capital 2006" programme, where Muscat was able to showcase some of the country's most dazzling cultural treasures.

World-wide relations

The Sultanate believes it is essential to maintain contacts and dialogue with other states and peoples for the sake of continued mutual understanding and co-operation. It supports all sincere efforts to develop closer relations or resolve differences through dialogue and within the context of international law and legitimacy, believing the establishment of peace and stability can best be achieved through tolerance and recognition of common interests.

This is the inspiration behind Oman's active role in the United Nations and international organisations such as UNESCO, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which Oman joined some years ago. It can also be seen in its extensive diplomatic relations with countries around the world.

Oman was unanimously elected by UNESCO's executive council to chair the 33rd session of the organisation's General Conference in Paris, attended by all 191 member states, in October 2005, when Sultan Qaboos gave a statement to the Conference.

The Sultanate was also represented at the United Nations World Summit in September 2005 where in a prepared speech, the government in Muscat reaffirmed its rejection of terrorism and confirmed its belief that the time had come to: "implement an international strategy for the prevention of terrorism, based on co-operation and exchanges of information between states." It was, the speech noted, essential to "differentiate between the legitimate right of self-defence and resistance to aggression, and outright acts of terror."

The Sultanate also emphasised the importance of upgrading the UN's organisations and institutions to all make them more effective in serving member states and in responding to the changing international situation. This process, it stressed, should be "continuous and all-embracing".

International visitors to Oman, either to renew old acquaintances and friendships or to learn more about the country and its leadership, included former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (March 2005), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAFA) Director-General Dr.Mohammed EI Baradei, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (September), Dutch Prime Minister Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende (14/11/05), US Vice-President Dick Cheney (20/12/05), Dr Frank Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Germany and his delegation (21/05/06) and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos in the same month.. Diplomatic relations were established with Uruguay in November 2005 and with the Central American Republic of Belize in March 2006.

The Sultanate enjoys cordial relations with numerous countries around the world, its long history of trade links with other peoples, from China in the east to the United States in the west, is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. For Oman, these links have long been a determining factor in forming internal policies as well as executing its role in the regional and international arenas.

The Sultanate enthusiastically supports the Greater Arab Free Trade Organisation, its growing relations and co-operation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and its continuing efforts to promote greater co-operation between member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARCI), as well as with the United States; negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the Sultanate and the US have now been completed and the Agreement, due to be signed before the end of 2006, will open up further opportunities for the Omani economy.

Such developments have attracted an increasing flow of investment from the region and beyond, which, in turn, has funded several major industrial projects including schemes at Sohar Industrial Estate and the other similar industrial zones in Sur, Salalah and Nizwa. Some of these projects are already up and running, helping to generate greater prosperity for Omani citizens.

Oman's relations with the countries of Asia and East and Central Africa go back a long way. The Indian Ocean was Oman's gateway to these regions centuries ago, when business between the indigenous populations and visiting Omani traders was brisk and lucrative. Today, those friendly relations have been renewed and, responding to the demands of globalisation, continue to blossom, serving mutual economic interests.

The Sultanate played a major role in setting up the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation (IORARC) in 1997 and actively supports measures to promote economic co-operation between member states, particularly in trade, tourism, the sciences, marine transport and fisheries. The Association's Fisheries Support Unit was established in Muscat in 2005.

Oman joined the "Asian Co-operation Dialogue" in 2003 and signed a declaration on a new partnership strategy between Asian and African states on 22/4/2005.

Diplomatic relations were established between the Sultanate and the Laos People's Democratic Republic on 9 March 2005 and diplomatic representation with the Republic of' Afghanistan was raised to embassy level on 25 March of the same year. Several exchange visits took place between Oman and Asian states during 2005, including visits to the Sultanate by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in March, Thailand's Prime Minister Dr.Thaksin Shinawatra in April, and the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov in the same month. The South Korean Prime Minister, Lee Hac-chan, visited in November. In March 2006 Pranab Mukherjee, India's Defence Minister had the honour of an Audience with His Majesty.

The Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Committee of Guangdong province, Mr. Zhang Dejiang, visited in June. In September 2005, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, and a highlevel delegation, made a tour of Asia, visiting Thailand, South Korea and China, with the aim of strengthening relations and expanding bilateral co-operation with those countries. The Gulf Indian Businessmen's Conference was subsequently held in Muscat, where the Muscat Declaration was issued on 26 March 2006, detailing plans to promote co-operation initiatives between businessmen in the AGGC states and their Indian counterparts.

Oman's relations with East and Central Africa, which date back hundreds of years, continue to flourish; the Sultanate enjoys extensive ties with numerous countries in that region, including Tanzania, South Africa, Mauritius, Senegal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia and others. These ties enable Oman to play a positive role in African affairs and to help open new horizons for even closer future relationships.

Oman enjoys good relations with over 140 countries around the globe and is a member of over 105 regional and international organisations.

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