Muscat – Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs of the United States underscored the central role played by the Sultanate of Oman in backing endeavours to achieve regional security and peace.

In a statement to ONA, she added that her ongoing trip to Oman comes within the context of consultation and discussion of a range of topics and bilateral issues of regional dimension. She said that the advanced relations between the two countries and issues of common concern were discussed during meetings with Omani officials.

Barbara said that her country aspires to further develop the bilateral relations between the two countries and expand the level of cooperation to cover areas of climate, education, culture and science, in addition to enhancing economic, trade and investment relations.

She also commended Oman’s efforts in relation to the situation in Yemen. She dubbed such efforts as ‘irreplaceable’. Barbara added that Oman’s partnership, endeavours and diplomacy are ‘quite critical’ in the same issue.

Within the same context, the US official added that the Omani efforts have been central to the successful efforts of the US together with regional partners and the United Nations. She reiterated the good efforts of Tim Lenderking, US Special Envoy to Yemen, to foster the two months truce in Yemen and the ongoing efforts to extend it.

Barbara visited the National Museum of Oman and expressed her admiration of the exhibits depicting the deep, long, historical relationship between the United States and Oman, which goes back to 1833.