Sultan Qaboos accepts first Palestinian ambassador

Oman's Sultan Qaboos Bin Said ratified yesterday at the al-Alam (flag) Palace the papers appointing Awni Mohamed Bettass as the first Palestinian ambassador to Oman, authorized by the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during receiving the ambassador.

Ambassador Betass confirmed that every effort will be exerted to enhance and strengthen the cooperation between the Palestinian government and Oman.

The ambassador delivered the greetings of Arafat to Sultan Qaboos, confirming the Palestinian people's belief in peace as strategic option, and the people's abidance by the agreements that were signed to achieve peace and the Arab summit's resolution.

The Sultan said that Oman encouraged the peace process as a strategic option, and supports the Arab negotiating parties, where the current stumbling in the peace process is going to create problems and escalate the crisis in the region.

Then he expressed his hope that the peace process would show progress.