Cablegate: Ramadan 2003 Pd Strategy: Engaging Islam

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Diana T Fritz 03/20/2007 03:50:41 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable
Text:

UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM November 04, 2003

To: No Action Addressee

Action: Unknown

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 4871 - ROUTINE)

TAGS: PREL, OIIP, KPAO

Captions: None

Subject: RAMADAN 2003 PD STRATEGY: ENGAGING ISLAM

Ref: None
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 04871

SIPDIS
CXABU:
ACTION: DCM
INFO: POL PAO AMB
Laser1:
INFO: PAO

DISSEMINATION: DCM
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: PAO:MHAMATI
CLEARED: PAO:HOWINDECKER

VZCZCADI371
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHAD #4871 3081321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041321Z NOV 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2307

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004871

SIPDIS

SECSTATE FOR REGIONAL PD OFFICES, R, IIP AND PA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OIIP KPAO IS SPECI
SUBJECT: RAMADAN 2003 PD STRATEGY: ENGAGING ISLAM

REF: SECSTATE 302772

SUMMARY: TO CELEBRATE RAMADAN 2003, POST IS FOCUSING ITS
PROGRAMMING ON ENGAGING OUR TWO MOST IMPORTANT AUDIENCES: MEDIA
AND THE EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT. END SUMMARY.

1. THE EMBASSY WILL HOST TWO FORMAL IFTARS: THE AMBASSADOR WILL
HOST AN INTIMATE IFTAR FOR HIGH LEVEL CONTACTS; PAO WILL HOST ONE
FOR PRIMARILY MEDIA CONTACTS IN ABU DHABI. DCM, PAO AND POLOFF
WILL ATTEND VARIOUS IFTAR AND MAJELIS MEETINGS. IN DUBAI,
OFFICERS FROM THE CG ON DOWN HAVE ATTENDED NUMEROUS IFTARS AND
POST-IFTAR MAJLESES IN ALL SIX OF THE NORTHERN EMIRATES.

2. TO ENGAGE EDUCATIONAL CONTACTS DURING THE MONTH, A SERIES OF
PROGRAMS WITH UPBEAT THEMES HAVE BEEN PLANNED. PAO AND CULTURAL
SPECIALIST WILL VISIT UNIVERSITIES IN ABU DHABI, AI AIN AND THE
NORTHERN EMIRATES OF FUJERAH AND RAS AI-KHAMAH TO PAY CALLS ON
EDUCATORS AND TO DISCUSS DONATION OF AMERICAN CORNERS. PAO WILL
MAKE A PRESENTATION TO A CLASS OF STUDENTS AT A PRIVATE GIRLS
UNIVERSITY ABOUT EDUCATION IN THE U.S., POLOFF WILL MAKE A
PRESENTATION ON HIS EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH MINORITY PRESS IN
THE U.S. WE WILL HOST A DVC AT ZAYED UNIVERSITY, A PRIVATE
EMIRATI WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY, WITH EMIRATI STUDENTS IN THE U.S. AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM AN INTERNATIONAL DIVISION OF A UNIVERSITY IN
THE WASHINGTON AREA TO TRY TO DISPEL SOME OF THE MOST PREVALENT
MISCONCEPTIONS OF HOW MUSLIM ARABS ARE NOT WANTED AND MISTREATED
IN THE U.S.

3. PRESS PLACEMENT OF OFFICIAL USG STATEMENTS ABOUT RAMADAN. THE
PRESIDENT'S RAMADAN MESSAGE WAS SENT TO CONTACTS AND PLACED IN
PRESS. THE PRESIDENT'S IFTAR WAS GIVEN FRONT PAGE PLACEMENT IN
THE LOCAL PRESS DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE UAE DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS SHAYKH HAMDAN
BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN.

ALBRIGHT

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