Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the occasion of 23 July Revolution anniversary. 

     His Majesty expressed his sincere greetings along with his best wishes of good health, happiness and long life to the President praying to the Almighty to grant him success to achieve progress and prosperity for the brotherly Egyptian people under the President’s wise leadership.

--- Ends/KH

H.M. the Sultan receives greetings cable from the State Council’s Chairman

     Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of greetings from Dr.Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Manthri, Chairman of the State Council, on the occasion of the blessed Renaissance Day, July 23 Anniversary.  

     In his cable, Dr. Al Manthri said he was honoured to extend his greetings and those of the State Council’s members and employees to  His Majesty on the occasion of the Glorious July 23rd anniversary, praying to the Almighty to return the occasion on His Majesty the Sultan with good health, happiness and long life and the Omani faithful people with further progress and prosperity.  

     He said “July 23rd anniversary was an eternal day of Oman’s glorious history which marked the beginning the blessed renaissance under your Majesty’s leadership. The comprehensive development was extended to all parts of the Sultanate, which both the Omani citizens and expatriates who are living in this blessed land had benefited.

     The Chairman of the State Council went on to say that as we celebrate the glorious 23rd July anniversary, the Sultanate is continuing, with God’s willing, with its comprehensive development march for which your Majesty had accorded much attention from day one of the blessed renaissance, and for which you availed all reasons and elements of success. Such development, was based on the true partnership with the Omani citizen, and was supported with your enlightened vision to establish and the bases of co-operation and the contemporary Shura practice”.  

     “The Council of Oman has come to ensure the true Shura practice which was based on genuine Omani values and traditions and to cope with modern time. Based on this, the State Council had contributed in achieving national partnership and development for this country and its citizens,” the State Council’s chairman concluded his cable.

---Ends/Muk

     Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, has received a cable of greetings from Lt. Gen. Malik bin Sulaiman al Ma’amari, Inspector-General of Police and Customs on the occasion of the blessed Renaissance Day, the Glorious 23rd July Anniversary.

      In his cable, Lt. Gen. Al Ma’amari, extended his greetings and those of Royal Oman Police (ROP) personnel to His Majesty on the occasion of the 38th Anniversary of the blessed Omani Renaissance, praying to the Almighty to return this glorious occasion on His Majesty with good health, happiness, progress and prosperity to the Omani people.  

     In his cable, Lt. Gen. Al Mama’ari said that “every year, the glorious 23rd July anniversary, reflects your Majesty’s determination to build a modern state and your enlightened vision to consolidate the principles of justice, security and peace. Also it reflects your wisdom to preserve Oman’s entity, besides benefiting from nations civilisations and achievements in a way that meets your Majesty’s ambitions to develop this beloved country and achieve prosperity of the Omani peoples who had been and are still the focus of your Majesty since you assumed power in Oman. Your Majesty, we always hope to be up to your expectations, to be a one-hand that contributes in building this country and safeguarding the achievements made during your prosperous reign and gains of your blessed renaissance.”   

     He went to say that “The attention accorded by His Majesty to the Royal Oman Police (ROP) since its beginnings, has today, gained it great respect. The development of its formations had made it a force able to maintain public order, and look after the citizens and residents’ interests. Your Majesty, we pledge to always look after the security of Oman, and its people.” 

    He prayed to the Almighty to protect His Majesty, grant him good health, happiness and a long life.

---Ends/Muk

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Inspector General of Police and Customs / Meeting

      Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- Lt. Gen. Malik bin Sulaiman al Ma’amari, Inspector General of Police and Customs received at ROP General Command here today Lt.Gen. Saif bin Abdullah al Shafa’r, Undersecretary of the UAE Interior Ministry, who is currently visiting the Sultanate.         

     During the meeting, cordial conversations were exchanged and viewpoints were reviewed in a number of issues of common concern particularly security matters.

     The meeting was attended by a number Royal Oman Police (ROP) senior officers.

---Ends/KH

Sultanate and UAE/ Agreement

     Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- The Sultanate and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed the final draft of maps pertaining to the Border Agreement signed on June 22, 2002, which covers the Sultanate/UAE Border Sectors from Eastern Al Oqaidat to Al Dara. 

     The agreement was signed from the Omani side by Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and from UAE side by Lt. Gen. Saif Abdullah al Shafa’r, Undersecretary of the UAE Interior Ministry, who is currently visiting the Sultanate.

      The agreement signing ceremony was attended by a number of officials from the two brotherly countries.

      Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry described the Omani-UAE brotherly relations as solid and strong. The agreement came to put things in order. By signing the agreement we had accomplished all stages, which began years ago to demarcate boarder between the two countries. He called for the necessity to speed up the development to serve the interests of the people of two brotherly countries. 

     Sayyid al Busaidi said that the Sultanate had finalized the demarcation of land border with the neighboring countries. Regarding the sea territories, there are no difficulties to demarcate them with our neighbours and there is a contact with UAE and the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard, he added. 

    On his turn, Lt. Gen. Saif Abdullah al Shafa’r, Undersecretary of the UAE Interior Ministry, said that the agreement which signed today is an expansion to what had been signed in 2002, which was from Umm al Zamoul to Eastern al Oqaidat and now from Eastern al Oqaidat to Khatmat Milaha including Madha, Diba and from Diba to Ras al Dara. The land line is now completed between the Sultanate and UAE and a copy of the maps and agreements will be submitted to the international authorities, he added.

     Al Shafa’r said that the relations between the two countries are eternal and historic and there is coherence between the people of the two countries indicating that the agreement will contribute to open up new economic horizons to push forward development in the border areas.           

---Ends/KH

The 38th Renaissance Day Anniversary

     Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--The Sultanate tomorrow (Wednesday) will mark the 38th anniversary of establishing modern Oman under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Throughout the last 38 years, the Sultanate managed to address the domestic and foreign challenges guided by a carefully studied national strategy, determined wise leadership and far sighted vision that takes into consideration the current developments and future requirements.  

    To this end and in response to His Majesty the Sultan’s directives, the Sultanate government has focused on the development of its human resources.  

    His Majesty the Sultan has shown great interest and concern in the empowerment of the Omani women. His Majesty the Sultan said ‘We are inviting the Omani women whether in the village or the city, rural or urban areas, valleys or mountains to take part at the socioeconomic development; each according to her abilities, energy, experience and designation in society.  

   The Sultanate has been one of the pioneering countries in the region in the field of adopting Shura system. His Majesty the Sultan conducts annual tours at the different parts of the Sultanate during which His Majesty has direct contact with his subjects.

    His Majesty the Sultan issued Royal Decree

No. 101/96 on 6/10/1996 promulgating the basic statue of the state which is considered one of the most developed legislative charts not only in the Gulf region but also in the Arab region.  

   His Majesty the Sultan has personally followed the implementation of the basic statue of the state and the details of the social, economic and political developments in the Sultanate.  

    Articles from 15 to article No. 34 of the basic statue of the state preserve public freedom. Article 35 also reads as follows ‘Every foreigner who is legally resident in the Sultanate shall have the right to protection of his person and his property in accordance with the Law. Foreigners shall have regard for society’s values and respect its traditions and customs.

     Article 36, which highlights the respect for every human being, reads as follows extradition of political refugees is prohibited. Extradition of criminals is subject to the provisions of international laws and agreements. 

    The Sultanate government has strives to ensure the rule of law and preserve the values of the Omani society. Many Royal Decrees were promulgated to ensure stability, security and justice for all. The compromise and Reconciliation Law, issued by the Royal Decree No. 98/2005 came into force on 28th November 2005.

      Developing the education sector in the Sultanate has always been one of the main concerns of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said since 1970. In more than one occasion, His Majesty the Sultan has emphasized that the most important objective of the development process is to improve the quality of education. The Ministry of Education therefore is trying to implement the Royal directives and ensures providing high quality education that serves the sustainable development goals in the Sultanate.

     To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Education was keen to introduce a modernized education system based on the fundamentals of the Omani culture and integrated with the most advanced educational theories in the world.

     Latest statistics show that the number of public schools students in 2007/2008 amounted to 553,236. The number of schools is 1052. The number teachers amounted to 41,988 with 86.6 per cent Omanization ratio. As for the administrative staff, the number amounted to 2522 males and 3187 females with Omanization ratio for the administrative staff 99.5 per cent.  

     Since the dawn of the blessed Renaissance, one of the main concerns of the Sultanate’s government was to develop health services and provide high quality health services for all Omanis in the different parts of the Sultanate. The country has made great strides in developing its health services, leading to striking improvements in the country's public health. 

     The number of hospitals in Oman now stands at 59, including 49 hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health. The number of beds now amounts to 5314 – 20.2 beds for every 10,000, including 4,544 at the public healthcare facilities which constitute 85.5 per cent of the total bed capacity.

     The number of primary health care facilities in the Sultanate now stands at 203 health centers including 159 managed by the Ministry of Health, 67 health centers with beds and 30 local hospitals.

     During the first quarter of 2008, the Omani economy has achieved a high growth in terms of the GDP at the current rates; 42.9 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2007 – the highest since 1980. The oil activities grow by 60.8 per cent due to the rise of oil price by 60 per cent and oil production by 4.9 per cent.  

    The non oil activities also grew by 28.3 per cent during the same period; the highest since the third quarter of 1996. The contribution to the growth is mainly attributed to the growth of wholesale, retail, chemical industries, transport, warehouses, communication and financial brokerage.

     The Sultanate’s joining WTO, liberal policies and FTA with U.S.A has played a major role in pushing the Omani economy forward.  

   As for the foreign trade, the Sultanate trade balance has posted RO. 3361,5 million surpluses during the 1Q 2007. Oil and LNG came on top of the Sultanate’s commodity exports.  

   As for the social development field, its should be noted that the social strategies are based on the directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to shape the Sultanate’s future with the help of human resources in the Sultanate.

    The Ministry of Social Development is doing its utmost to achieve development through several programmes that aimed at building the capabilities of Omani citizens and creating a conducive atmosphere for their effective participation in the development process.

     Article No. 12 of the basic statue of the state reads as follows ‘The State guarantees assistance for the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, sickness, disability and old age in accordance with the social security system. It also encourages society to share the burdens of dealing with the effects of public disasters and calamities’.

    As of December 2007, the Sultanate road network now covers 10,033 km of asphalt roads and 15284 graded roads that connect the different parts of the Sultanate.

    In a bid to diversify source of national economy and attains the Omani vision, the Sultanate government is making endeavors to develop the infrastructure projects for ports and airports, as well as, build new ports to absorb the growing local and international trade. Work is underway to develop Sultan Qaboos Port, Salalah Port and Sohar Industrial port will start operation at the second half this year. Work was also initiated at Duqm dry Dock; one of the projects with high potentials.  

    The initial designs for the development of Muscat International Airport have been completed. The designs include the construction of a passenger terminal that absorbs 24 million passengers per annum. Salalah Airport project also includes the construction of a passenger terminal that absorbs 2 million passengers per annum. Work is underway currently to construction a number of locals ports in Sohar, Duqm, Ras al Hadd, Haima, Shalim, as well as, a landing runway in Adam.  

    Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) was also set up as per the Royal Decree

No. 30/2002 to draft communication strategies, promote the communication sector, and encourage fair competition to ensure the provision of high quality service for all customers.  

   The Sultanate’s strategy to develop the tourism sector is based on improving the infrastructure for the sector by construction of hotels and service projects and encouraging the investment projects that promote for the Sultanate as a tourism hub. The Sultanate government is making endeavors to lure local and foreign investments to the Sultanate, as well as, enhance the partnership between the private and public sector.

     A number of tourism development projects have been signed including Jabal Seifah, Salah Tourism Project, Salam Yiti project, Salam Shinas and other projects.

      The number of Omani Women Associations now amounted to 51 including 19 occupational societies, 10 community clubs and 11 charity organizations.

      The environment sector has also received a great deal of attention in the Sultanate since His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said assumed power in 1970. The Sultanate comes among the pioneering countries in the world in the field of environment preservation.

      The Royal Decree 90/2007 issued on 9th September 2007 establishing the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs and approval of its organizational structure by the Royal Decree No. 18/2008 highlights the interest of the Sultanate government in environmental issues.

Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environment Protection reflects His Majesty the Sultan’s recognition of the efforts of those interested in environment issues.

     Since the launch of the award in 1991, it has been awarded to individuals and organizations working in the filed of environment in the different parts of the world. Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environment Protection 2007 was jointly awarded to Dr. Julius Oszlanyi, director of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation in Adis Ababa (Ethiopia) in recognition of their efforts in environment protection and biodiversity.  

    The Sultan Qaboos Prize for environmental preservation was unveiled during the visit of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the UNESCO Headquarters in 1989, in recognition from His Majesty to the role played by the UNESCO represented by International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in preserving environment. The award is given every two-years to individuals, groups of individuals, institutes or organizations that made an outstanding contribution to the management or preservation of the environment. 

     Sultan’s Armed Forces is an ample evidence of the impressive achievement which took place during the blessed Renaissance under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Since 1970, His Majesty the Sultan has been very keen on availing modern armed forces equipped with the latest technologies. The Ministry of Defence implements a number of defensive strategies as per the Royal Orders of the supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

     The armed forces has been provided with modern tanks, armored personnel carriers, missile systems, armored vehicles, fighter planes, helicopters, in addition, to the project which links the bases with the command and control center. A number of ships and modern boats were supplied to the Royal Navy of Oman to integrate the role played by the armed forces.

     His Majesty the Sultan wise foreign policies have been recognized by the different international organizations. In 2007, His majesty the Sultan won Jawaharlal Nehru award for International Understanding’ which is an outstanding award granted to leaders and distinguished personalities who made great contribution to understanding and friendship among countries.  

    His Majesty the Sultan also won the Peace Award 2007 of the Russian International Association in recognition of His Majesty the Sultan efforts in serving international peace and cooperation.

---Ends/MS

     Muscat, July 22 (ONA)--- The Higher Education Institutions Exhibition 2008 was opened at the Oman International Exhibitions Centre today under the auspices of Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers. The Exhibition is being organized by the Directorate General of Universities and Private Colleges at the Ministry of Higher Education and lasts for 3 days.

      The Exhibition, in which 30 educational institutions are taking part including 6 government institutions, 24 higher education private institutions (5 universities and 19 colleges), aims to establish contact between the higher education institutions.

      The Secretary General of the Council of Ministers highlighted the importance of the exhibition as various private educational institutions are gathered under one roof to familiarize the General certificates students with types of education offered in the future.

      On her turn, Dr. Rawiyah bint Saud al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education commended tangible role played by the specialized higher education exhibitions in serving all categories in the society. 

     She added that the exhibition, which is being held after announcing the general certificate results will undoubtedly contribute in highlighting the programmes and disciplines offered by the universities and colleges in the Sultanate, as well as, other services provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and other authorities.

---Ends/KH

SAF Command and Staff College/ Graduation Ceremony

      Muscat, July 22 (ONA)---The Command and Staff College at the Sultan’s Armed Forces today celebrated the graduation of the 21st batch of Officers under the auspices of Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Manthri, Chairman of the State Council in the presence of Lt.Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces. 

     At the beginning of the ceremony, which was held at the College’s HQs’ at Bait al Falaj, Brigadier Khamis bin Rashid al Manthri, Commandant of the Command and Staff College gave a speech saying that the ceremony coincides with July 23rd Anniversary, the blessed renaissance anniversary.

      He pointed out that the Command and Staff College took responsibility to carry out its mission by preparing and educating its personnel from SAF officers, other Military and Security apparatuses and officers from the sisterly and friendly countries to become staff commanders and officers capable of discharging their duty in various fields under all circumstances. 

     The Chief Guest then, distributed Bachelor Certificates of Military Sciences to the graduate officers and appreciation prizes to top graduates. Maj. Sultan bin Saif al Ma’amari from the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) won the first place, Maj. Eng. Nasser bin Humaid al Yahya’ee from RAO won the second place. Lt.Colonel. Khalid Abdullah al Mo’emeni from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan won the first place in the general level and Lieutenant Commander Eng. Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mejrafi from the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) won the first place in the individual research.

      Dr. Yahya al Mantheri gave a speech to mark the occasion in which he said that the covering graduation coincides with the Blessed Renaissance Day, July 23rd Anniversary. He affirmed that the Royal attention accorded to this Military establishment features. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s keenness to develop his Armed Forces so that this developmental tributary in all fields of knowledge and military sciences for various formations of the Sultan’s Armed Forces.

      At the end of the ceremony, the Chairman of the State Council praised the Command and Staff College at the Sultan’s Armed Forces for the military developments it achieved parallel to the advanced military colleges in the world. 

     The ceremony was attended by Maj.Gen Said bin Nasser al Salmi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Air Vice Marshal Yahya bin Rasheed al Jumah, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raisi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Maj.Gen. Salim bin Mussallam Qatan, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs, Maj.Gen. Said bin Ali al Hilali, Assistant Head of the Internal Security Service for Operations (ISS), Acting Commander of the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Commander of the Sultan’s Special Force, a number of senior officers at SAF and other Security apparatuses, a number of Military Attachés at the Embassies of the sisterly and friendly countries in the Sultanate and the countries which attended the course.

---Ends/KH

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