Friday 19 / April / 2024
Muscat: U.S. Ambassador to the Sultanate Marc J Sievers on Monday assured the Omani people of continued ties between the two countries, based on sustained dialogue and mutual respect.
He said this while addressing a gathering of senior government officials, State Council members, ambassadors from other nations and other people from the community at celebrations to commemorate the 241st anniversary of the Independence of the United States.
“Since I last had the pleasure to host our Independence Day celebration, we have witnessed important developments in the United States, as Americans voted into office a new president, who ran on a platform of changing Washington, but one thing has not changed is the strong bond between our two nations, a bond that has stood the test of time.”
“Yesterday in Riyadh, President Donald Trump addressed two remarkable summit meetings with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and leaders of the Arab and Islamic world, aimed at developing an American-Islamic partnership to combat the scourge of terrorism. I extend my best wishes to His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, who represented the Sultan at this remarkable international event; we hope to see many exchanges between the leaders of our countries in the months ahead.”
Last year, on the occasion of the 240th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, Ambassador Sievers had assured the Omani people that Omanis and Americans will continue to share a close relationship regardless of the U.S. November 2016 elections’ outcome.
Ambassador Sievers said His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said continues to be one of America’s strongest partners. “Sultan Qaboos continues to be one of America’s strongest partners and my country is grateful to the Sultan for his efforts to establish peace, prosperity, security in this region and beyond. In addition I would like to extend a special welcome to the members of the official Omani delegation this evening headed by Sheikh Al Khattab bin Ghalib bin Ali Al Hinai, deputy chairman of the State Council.”
“Together, the U.S. and Oman have accomplished much as partners with common goals and common dreams; together we have worked for peace and security in an ever turbulent world and together we have identified new areas for cooperation in science, technology and entrepreneurship, these accomplishments are by no means completed as we continue to work together with our Omani partners.”
“Ours is a tight knit friendship, one that I am thankful to benefit from daily and one that I know my government relies on frequently.”
Moving ahead, the ambassador mentioned that there would be more trade exchanges happening between the two nations, “Looking ahead, we are making concerted efforts to broaden bilateral business ties with Oman and deepen investment opportunities here and in the United States. Thanks to the Tanfeedh programme, my embassy and I have been able to lead interested American businesses in the right direction as we focus our efforts in helping Oman achieve great successes in several new and exciting sectors.”
“I would like to wish His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, continued health and the best wishes of my country’s leadership and of the people of the United States,” Ambassador Sievers concluded.
