Oman’s new leader vows to continue predecessor’s regional policy

Oman's new ruler Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said
Oman's new ruler Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said

Oman's new ruler Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said pledged tofollow the non-interference foreign policy of the late Sultan Qaboos that madethe kingdom an important regional broker.

In a speech broadcast on state television, he also promised tomaintain the Gulf Arab state's foreign policy which he said was built onpeaceful coexistence and maintaining friendly ties with all nations.

"We will follow the path of the late sultan," Haitham said in his first publicspeech after being sworn in as sultan.

He expressed support for "ourcountry's foreign policy of peaceful living among nations and peoples… andnot interfering in the internal affairs of others, respecting nations'sovereignty and international cooperation."

He called for efforts todevelop the relatively small oil producer, continuing the path of hispredecessor Sultan Qaboos bin Said who died on Friday. Qaboos, who built modernOman, had acted as a regional mediator.

Haitham bin Tariq was chosen by a ruling family council thatconvened on Saturday. It opened a sealed envelop in which the late SultanQaboos, whopassed away late on Friday, had secretly writtenhis recommendation in case the family could not agree, and opted to follow his"wise" guidance, Reuters reported.

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