RAMADAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGY 2002

UNCLAS AMMAN 006189 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/PDD; IIP, R. PA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL OIIP JO SUBJECT: RAMADAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGY 2002 Ref: secstate 201932 ¶1. Following is an outline of the PD Ramadan activities which emphasize respect for Islam and shared values during the month of Ramadan. In Jordan, Ramadan is a festive time similar to the Christmas season. After the Iftar, most Jordanians spend their time on visits to family and friends, cultural entertainment or congregating in cafes and watching the many Ramadan TV serials available on local and satellite TV. Embassy officers from all sections, starting with the Ambassador and DCM, attend and host a wide variety of iftars involving a wide spectrum of the community. Following are the main Ramadan Public Affairs activities which we plan during this period. ¶2. Press and News Media Activities We plan to invite 50 journalists to an iftar hosted by Ambassador Gnehm. In addition, we will equip all of the Embassy officers who will be attending iftars and other Ramadan gatherings with "speaker kits," featuring talking points and background information on hot issues such as Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as student visas. We will also draw the attention of JTV and other news media to Secretary Powell's Nov. 6 iftar as well as any other high-level Ramadan events in the U.S. Our web page will feature materials on the above events plus other information about Muslim life in the U.S., the "dialogue of civilizations" and related topics. ¶3. Cultural Activities In addition to an Ambassadorial iftar for 50 academics, artists, and intellectuals, particularly young people, we will propose an iftar which either the Ambassador or PAO could host for the legal community. The latter group cooperates with us closely in our judicial reform projects and includes many religiously conservative young professionals. The CAO plans a Ramadan evening with poetry readings and oud music. We would also like to do an Arabic-language DVC on the topic of Ramadan in the U.S., perhaps about "Ramadan before and after Sept. 11." Finally, we would invite members of the IV delegation from various Sharia' Law faculties to a Ramadan evening or Iftar in which they would discuss their recent trip to the U.S. ¶4. Other activities. About a week after the Eid following Ramadan, Promo-7, the local affiliate of Webber-Shandwick, plans to sponsor in close coordination with post a speaker tour featuring a Muslim-American group who will discuss Muslim life in America and shared values between Islam and the U.S. The speakers will include a 28-year old female author, the public affairs director of the Supreme Islamic Council of America, a paramedic and an entrepreneurial couple who appeared in the TV Public Service Announcements about Muslim Life in the U.S. This group will meet with young business people, artists and intellectuals and will be interviewed on Jordan satellite TV in advance of the PSA's which we understand may be aired on local and/or satellite TV. Post is assisting Promo 7 in its effort to obtain permission to air the PSA's on JTV during Ramadan. Gnehm