Kerry, in Oman, praises Raytheon defense contract

MUSCAT, Oman, May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, meeting with leaders in Oman, hailed the Raytheon Co.'s $1.6 billion contract for an Omani air defense system.

In remarks Wednesday before his meeting with Omani Defense Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, Kerry mentioned Raytheon's presence in his home state, Massachusetts, and praised Omani Sultan Qaboos, with whom Kerry met Tuesday.

Kerry also noted a "transition taking place throughout the Middle East, throughout the Arab world" and singled out Qaboos as being "ahead of the curve and looking carefully at how to empower people."