AL JAZEERA TURNS TEN

UNCLAS DOHA 001614

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PD, NEA/ARP
INFO NSC FOR ABRAMS, DOD/OSD FOR SCHENKER AND MATHENY
LONDON FOR ARAB MEDIA OFFICE
DUBAI FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY HUB
CENTCOM FWD FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL JAZEERA TURNS TEN



1. Al Jazeera celebrated its 10th Anniversary November 1 with a
lavish celebration held in the open-air on the Al Jazeera compound
in Doha. The event was attended by the Qatari Amir and his wife,
Sheikha Moza, as well as a wide range of Qatari dignitaries and
members of the diplomatic community, including Ambassador, DCM, and
PAO.


2. Al Jazeera used the occasion to unveil a memorial wall listing
the names of more than 630 journalists killed and imprisoned
throughout the world, including some Al Jazeera staffers. Al
Jazeera clearly spent a significant sum on the celebration, which
included a performance of a symphony composed for the event by
Lebanese musician Marcel Khalifa. The choral work, entitled "Elegy
for the Orient," was performed in the Italian city of Piacenza by
the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra and was beamed live to Doha,
where guests watched the performance on giant outdoor screens.


3. The musical performance was preceded by a precis of Al Jazeera's
ten-year history, given by two of the channel's presenters,
including dramatic clips, predominantly of Al Jazeera's war and
conflict coverage. Speeches followed by Al Jazeera Board Chairman
Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani and Wadah Khanfar, Director-General
of the overall Al Jazeera Network and Managing Director of the
Arabic channel.


4. Neither speech contained any surprises - both congratulated the
Amir, Qatar, Al Jazeera staffers and the Arab world in general on
the occasion of the 10th anniversary. Khanfar reiterated familiar
themes - such as the unique edge in Middle Eastern coverage given Al
Jazeera by its location in the heart of the region; its role in
educating and liberating the average Arab listener; and the
challenges and resistance the channel has faced. Khanfar recognized
the families of Al Jazeera reporters who have been either killed in
the line of duty (correspondent Tareq Ayoub),or detained (reporter
Tayseer Alouni, now under house arrest in Spain after being
convicted of collaborating with a terrorist group; and cameraman
Sami Al Hajj, detained since 2001 in Guantanamo Bay). (Note: Alouni
appeared during the proceedings in a taped statement in which he
thanked his supporters, congratulated Al Jazeera and encouraged
fellow journalists. End note.)


5. Khanfar also referred to the upcoming November 15 launch of the
English-language Al Jazeera International and the network's plans to
launch a pan-Arab newspaper (septel reporting on both topics).


6. The anniversary received wide local and regional press coverage
in both news and commentary sections, with the tone primarily
congratulatory of the channel and of the Amir for supporting it.

Untermeyer