Muscat, Mar 11 (ONA)--- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Anerood Jugnauth of the Republic of Mauritius on the occasion of his country’s National Day, expressing his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Jugnauth and the friendly people of Mauritius.

Sultanate and Andorra - Diplomatic Relations

          New York, Mar 11 (ONA)--- The Sultanate’s government and the Principality of Andorra signed at the Andorran delegation permanent HQs’ last night a joint communiqué to establish diplomatic relations between them.  

          The joint communiqué was signed on behalf of the Sultanate’s government by Fouad bin Mubarak al Hinai, Sultanate’s Permanent Representative at the UN and on behalf of the Principality of Andorra and by Carles Font Rossell, its Permanent Representative to the U.N.  

          Fouad bin Mubarak al Hinai, requested the Andorran Permanent Representative to convey the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to Albert Pintat, head of government of Andorra and his best wishes of prosperity and stability and that the establishment of relations between the two courtiers would doors for scopes of cooperation in political, economic and commercial domains.  

          On his part, the Andorran UN Permanent Representative requested Hinai to convey the greetings of the head of Andorran government to His Majesty the Sultan, the Sultanate’s government and people and his best wishes of progress and prosperity. He also hoped that the development and activation of bilateral relations would serve the interests of both friendly countries.

----Ends/MS/

          Muscat, March 11 (ONA)- The Sultanate will take part at the first scientific conference on   “human trafficking between theory and practice” organized by the National Office for Combating Human Trafficking in collaboration with Qatar University scheduled to commence on March 12^th  in Doha and last for two days.

           The Sultanate will be represented at the conference by a delegation of the technical committee to study the combating regional and international crime agreements which comprises the Assistant Prosecutor General, Assistant Director General of the legal Businesses and International Cooperation and the Director of International Cooperation Department at the Justice Ministry.  

          The conference will discuss a number of themes through 21 working papers on human trafficking concept, its history, social and political dimensions and the regional and international initiatives to combat human trafficking.  

     It is worth mentioning that the Sultanate joined the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime by the Royal Decree No. 37/2005. It also signed the attached.

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     Muscat, March 11 (ONA)--- Majlis A’Shura Education and Culture Committee today held its tenth regular meeting of the first annual sitting under the chairmanship of Amer bin Said bin Ali al Musharfi, Committee Chairman.

      During the meeting, the previous meeting minutes was approved. The committee reviewed the presented working papers by its office on the reality of technological education and vocational training in the Sultanate and the topic’s special data.

          Muscat, 11^th March (ONA)---Oman Environment Exhibition, Gulf Eco 2008, organized by the Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs and Oman International Trade and Exhibition commenced here at the Oman International Exhibition Centre today.  

    Shaikh Al-Fadel bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Harthy, Undersecretary of the National Economy Ministry for Development Affairs patronized over the inauguration ceremony for the three-day exhibition.  

          Shaikh al Harthy toured at the exhibition in which 40 local and international organizations are taking part, such as UNESCO, WHO, Sultanate Public Agencies, GCC agencies in addition to a number of local, GCC and international companies.

           The exhibition covers environmental related issues, such as, water, air, soil, waste management and processing, energy, climate affairs, natural resources, wild and marine life, agricultural researches, modern environment technology and issues related to culture, heritage and environmental tourism.  

          In a statement to reporters, Shaikh al Harthy said that the Sultanate’s government approved RO. 65 million for the support of the environment sector. RO.350 million has been allocated for water supply projects in a number of regions at the Sultanate. RO. 300-400 million has been allocated for wastewater projects in Salalah and Muscat. The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources is currently implementing 15 water treatment plants.  

          An environmental symposium will be held on the sidelines of the exhibition on "Sustainable development in the use and application of renewable energy for mitigation of climate changes" said Ahmed bin Saleh Ba’abood, Deputy Chairman of Oman International Trade and Exhibitions Co.  

          The symposium included presentations by a number of experts and specialists from the region, international organizations, government institutions and private companies on regional and international experience in the field of renewable energy use and application in different fields.

           The opening ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Khamis al Araimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and a number of undersecretaries, governmental departments and private sector officials.

Pakistani Students Delegation Visits SAF Museum

    Muscat, March 11 (ONA)--- Students delegation of the Pakistani Navy Staff College which is currently visiting the Sultanate visited the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) museum today.

      The delegation toured the museum’s sections and saw the architectural design of Bait Al Falaj Fort and its fortified towers besides manuscripts, models and historical weapons, that narrate the deep-rooted Omani history. They were briefed on the military progress enjoyed by the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) under the prosperous reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

       Muscat, Mar 11^th (ONA)---Sultanate and the Kingdom of Bahrain signed a MoU at Muscat International Airport to regularize air transportation services between the two countries during a joint session of talks held between the civil aviation authorities of both countries today. 

     Mohammed bin Sakhar al A’amri, Undersecretary of the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications signed the MoU on behalf of the Omani side, while Pilot Abdul Rahman Mohammed al Qa’oud, Undersecretary of Civil Aviation Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, signed on behalf the Bahraini sides.

      Al Qa’oud stated that the MoU would allow national carriers of both countries to operate flights to both countries without restrictions, adding that the agreement would finally be signed during the forthcoming period. 

     He told Oman News Agency (ONA), that Bahrain Air has been appointed as Bahrain’s second carrier besides Gulf Air. The new carrier will operate its flights during the coming period, he noted.

      Meanwhile, Rashid bin Mohammed al Kayumi, Assistant Director General of the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications said that the MoU would cover a number of topics related to regulating operation of national carriers of both countries and air transportation rights of each side.

     The meeting is the first of its kind after the withdrawal of the Sultanate from Gulf Air, whereas Oman Air has been appointed as the Sultanate’s national carrier and Gulf Air and Bahrain Air as Bahrain’s national carriers, he added. The MoU will allow the new Bahrain Air Company to operate its flights to Muscat and Salalah airports where the first flight to Muscat is expected to be operational during the forthcoming months, he noted. 

     The session of talks was attended by a number of Air Transportation officials in the Sultanate and Bahrain and officials of national carriers in both countries.

---Ends/ Muk

      Muscat, March 11 (ONA)--- Dr. Ali bin Jaafar bin Mohammed, Health Ministry Advisor for Health Affairs today patronized over at Baushar Health Complex the opening ceremony of a seminar organized by the Health Ministry represented by the Non-Infectious Diseases Control Department on diabetic foot. 

      Addressing the participants, Dr. Ali pointed out that diabetes is one of the main challenges for world health system especially in developing countries and the AGCC countries in particular. 

      The number of diabetic patient shows a constant rise. The number of newly diagnosed diabetic patients during the last five years amounted to 5000, increasing the number of registered patients by the end of 2007 to 6000, he continued. 

      As per the statistics of 2000, the rate of the disease in Asian countries is 7.20% in the other AGCC countries and 12% in the Sultanate, he added. 

      If diabetic foot, which is one of the most dangerous diabetes complications, is not treated properly, it may lead to amputation of part of the foot or the whole foot or even the whole leg. 

      Although the rate of diabetic foot cases decreases from 36 :1000 in 2001 to 20:1000 in 2006, the challenge is still pending.

        The Ministry of Health in collaboration with a number of local and international institutions provided training for nurses operating in the field of diabetic foot care, he added.

     Muscat, Mar 11 (ONA)--- Maj.Gen. Sheikh Daieaj bin Salman al-Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain’s Defence Force left here today with his accompanying delegation winding up his several day official visit to the Sultanate. 

     He was seen off by Lt.Gen. Ahmed bin Harith al-Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), SAF senior officers and the Charge D’ Affairs at embassy of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain in the Sultanate.

Regional Municipalities Ministry to hand over H.M. the Sultan’s Cups

Sultanate takes part in Gulf First Vocational Skills Competition

     Muscat, March 11 (ONA)---The Sultanate takes part in the first competition for Gulf vocational skills, which started today and continues until March 21^st in Al Ain city, UAE. 

     The Sultanate is represented by the Manpower Ministry is taking part in the vocational competitions, such as, automobiles technology skill competition, electrical skill competition, air conditioning skill competition, web-designing skill competition, cartoons designing technology skill competition and computer applications programme competition.

---Ends/Kh

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Higher Education Minister leaves for Kuwait 

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     Muscat, Mar 11^th (ONA)---Dr. Rawiyah bint Saud al Busaidiyah, Higher Education Minister left here today for Kuwait to take part at the 13th meeting of the AGCC Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministers due to be held in Kuwait tomorrow (Wednesday). 

    The meeting is expected to discuss a number of joint topics, such as decisions taken at the 28th session of the Supreme Council held in Doha last December 2007 which were related to education and education issues as presented by Kuwait's working paper, comprehensive development of education, projects, unification of measures and criteria for evaluation of foreign certificates and eliminating media negative effects on generations. 

    The ministers will also discuss the topic of exchanging expertise, researches and educational scholarships with the Arab Mughrib states and unifying their stands at international arenas. They will also review results of negotiations with New Zealand in higher education, as well as the results reached by the joint work committees in the field of higher education.

----Ends/Muk 

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      Brussels, March 11 (ONA)-- The political consultations session was held at the Belgian Foreign Ministry today between the Sultanate and the Kingdom of Belgium. The Omani side was headed by Sayyid Badr bin Hamed bin Hamoud al Busaidi, Foreign Ministry Secretary-General and the Belgium side was headed by Jan Grauls, Secretary-General of the Belgium Foreign Ministry. 

     During the session, the existing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of developing them particularly in economic and trade spheres were reviewed and the mutual interests of both sides. The two sides also exchanged opinions on the current situation in a number of regional and international issues of common concern. 

     The session was attended from the Omani side by Sayyid Jayfer bin Salim al Said, Head of the Western Europe Department, Sheikh Ghazi bin Said al Bahar al Rowas, the Sultanate’s ambassador to Belgium and head of the mission to the European Union as well as a number of Sultanate’s officials. It was also attended from Belgium side by the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department, and Assistant Director of Bilateral Relations and a number of officials at the Belgium Foreign Ministry.

---Ends/KH

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