RAMADAN 2005 PA STRATEGY: ENGAGING ISLAM

UNCLAS AMMAN 007932

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R, NEA/PPD, IIP, PA, DRL/IRF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIRF KPAO PREL JO
SUBJECT: RAMADAN 2005 PA STRATEGY: ENGAGING ISLAM


1. DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, THE ENTIRE AMERICAN MISSION
IN JORDAN WILL WORK TO REINFORCE PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF
AMERICAN RESPECT FOR ISLAM AND ISLAMIC TRADITIONS. OUR
EFFORTS THIS YEAR WILL FOCUS ON EVENTS WHICH WILL CARRY THAT
MESSAGE BEYOND OUR USUAL CONTACTS TO AUDIENCES NOT ALWAYS
REACHED BY OUR STANDARD PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMMING.


2. AS AN INITIAL STEP, MISSION PERSONNEL FROM ALL SECTIONS
AND AGENCIES HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO OPEN ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS
AND STATEMENTS WITH THE TRADITIONAL LOCAL GREETING FOR
RAMADAN IN ARABIC: RAMADAN KARIM OR RAMADAN MUBARAK.
THROUGH THIS SIMPLE STEP, ALL MISSION AUDIENCES AND
COUNTERPARTS, SPANNING ALL SECTORS OF JORDANIAN SOCIETY,
WILL BE REMINDED OF OFFICIAL U.S. RECOGNITION OF THIS
IMPORTANT MONTH.


3. IN ADDITION, ALL EMBASSY SECTIONS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO HOST
IFTARS FOR THEIR KEY COLLEAGUES. IN PAST YEARS, ONLY THE
CHARGE OR AMBASSADOR AND THE PAO HAVE HOSTED OFFICIAL
IFTARS. THIS YEAR, THE CHARGE PLANS TO HOST AN IFTAR FOR
APPROXIMATELY 50 RETURNED EXCHANGE GRANTEES WHOSE WORK
FOCUSES ON INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE. THE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE WILL AGAIN HOST ITS MAJOR ANNUAL EVENT
WITH THE PRESS, AN IFTAR FOR NEARLY 200 JOURNALISTS AND
WRITERS. BY HOSTING THEIR OWN IFTARS, SECTION HEADS AND
STAFF FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE MISSION WILL AGAIN HELP SPREAD
PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE U.S. PARTICIPATION IN RAMADAN
FESTIVITIES THROUGH ALL SECTORS OF JORDAN. MISSION
PERSONNEL ARE ALSO BEING ENCOURAGED TO ACCEPT ALL
INVITATIONS FROM JORDANIAN COUNTERPARTS AND CONTACTS FOR
RAMADAN IFTARS, SOHOURS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS.


4. PA JORDAN WORKS WITH TWO LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS IN DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENCOURAGE
DIALOGUE WITH NON-TRADITIONAL AUDIENCES WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY
CRITICAL OF U.S. POLICY IN THE REGION. THIS YEAR, WE ARE
EXPANDING THAT COOPERATION TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF
JOINTLY ORGANIZING IFTARS FOR THEIR YOUTH GROUPS.
SIMILARLY, PA JORDAN IS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF HOSTING
EITHER AN IFTAR OR AN EID CELEBRATION WITH ONE OR MORE OF
THE LOCAL ORPHANAGES.


5. PA JORDAN ALSO LOOKS FORWARD TO VIDEOS, PHOTOS, AND WF
STORIES COVERING VARIOUS OFFICIAL EVENTS IN WASHINGTON AND
ACROSS THE U.S. CELEBRATING RAMADAN. THESE MATERIALS WILL
BE USED WIDELY IN THE LOCAL MEDIA AND ON THE MISSION
WEBSITE. THESE MATERIALS HELP REINFORCE AND SPREAD OUR
MESSAGE, WHILE SHOWING THAT AMERICAN RECOGNITION OF RAMADAN
AND RESPECT FOR ISLAMIC TRADITIONS IS NOT ONLY A PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY EFFORT OVERSEAS, BUT OCCURS BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE
U.S. HALE