Oman denies report on airbase

Gulf News Online ^ | 25 April 2002 | GNO

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Muscat | By A Correspondent | 25-04-2002

The Sultanate of Oman yesterday categorically denied a report by a British newspaper that a U.S. airbase was being constructed in the wilayat of Musannah in the north of the country.

Calling the report, published by The Herald last Friday, baseless, an official source at the Ministry of Defence affirmed that the project being implemented there was in fact an airport planned by Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) 10 years ago.

The planned project involved the transfer of RAFO airbase from Seeb Airport to a new site in the wilayat of Musannah.

He said it was part of a larger plan to expand Seeb Airport to cater to increasing international traffic as recommended in the Economic Vision 2000 conference held in Muscat in 1995.

"The new airport will be used exclusively as an Omani airbase. The Government of His Majesty did not and will not allow the construction of foreign military bases on its territories."

He said provision of military facilities are normally governed by known and declared agreements and use of such facilities is subject to prior Omani approval.

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A fighter base right at the mouth of the Persian Gulf on the territory of a close ally. Cool! Oman would be a primary staging area for an attack on Iraq. The Marines would stage their forces from there.