ISLAMIC AFFAIRS MINISTRY PLANS ISLAMIC MODERATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002257

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, NEA/PA, NEA/PI, ECA/V, ECA
(DPOWELL)
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO SCUL XF KU

SUBJECT: ISLAMIC AFFAIRS MINISTRY PLANS ISLAMIC MODERATION
CONFERENCE IN U.S. IN NOVEMBER 2006

REF: A) Kuwait 1741

B) Kuwait 882
C) Kuwait 806


1. Summary: (U) Building on the success of its International
Moderation Conference held in London in May, the Kuwaiti Ministry of
Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is proceeding to organize a similar
conference in the U.S. in early November 2006. During a June 11
courtesy call by the Charge d'Affaires on the Ministry
Undersecretary, it emerged that the conference would gather American
Islamic leaders in order to encourage moderation and the peaceful
co-existence of Muslims with other faiths. The Undersecretary
emphasized that the worldwide adoption of these tenants is the
vision of the Ministry and of the Kuwaiti Amir. He also related how
pleased he was with the results of a 2006 International Visitor
Leadership Program in which three Ministry officials traveled to the
U.S. to learn about religious diversity in America. The Ministry
would like to participate in more such programs, and expand
cooperation at the local level. End summary.


2. (U) The Charge d'Affaires on June 11 called on Undersecretary of
the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Adel Abdullah Al-Falah
who emphasized the vision of the Ministry to organize conferences
worldwide to promote Islamic moderation and the peaceful
co-existence of Muslims with other faiths as a way of life. The plan
is the offshoot of the success reported by the Undersecretary of a
similar conference that the Ministry organized in London from May
26-28, 2006. Dr. Al-Falah revealed tentative plans to hold the next
moderation conference in the United States from November 4-5, 2006.
A location has not been finalized. The U.S. conference would be the
next step in the Ministry's ambitious proposal to conduct future
similar seminars around the world, including in Russia and China.



3. (SBU) The proposed U.S. conference is being coordinated by the
Ministry and the Kuwait Embassy in Washington. The Charge suggested
that planning include an opportunity for participants to visit
Washington in order to meet with USG officials and with members of
Congress. Dr. Al-Falah said the Kuwait Ambassador to the U.S.
suggests that the first such conference be held in a location other
than Washington D.C. and then once the first conference established
a ground work of understanding, then leaders could travel to the
capital for relevant meetings and consultations.


4. (U) The Ministry's eagerness to follow through with more such
programs is based on the success of the May conference in London.
Dr. Al-Falah spoke of how it brought together top leadership of
European Islamic communities, including clerics. The emphasis was
on ways that U.K. Muslims could be both loyal British citizens and
good Muslims. Emphasis was on encouraging "full and effective
citizenship" while being Muslim at the same time. The Minister
described the ultimate aim as "promoting peaceful co-existence" and
"shunning extremism." Mutalq Al-Qarawi, Assistant Undersecretary of
the Holy Quran, Islamic Studies and the Hajj, who also participated
in the meeting, commented that the London conference was the
Ministry's first experience outside Kuwait. He emphasized how well
the conference went and he supported the Undersecretary's desire to
expand the program and to "make this experiment more successful."


5. (U) Dr. Al-Falah commented positively on the recent International
Visitor Leadership Program in which three Ministry officials
traveled to the U.S. to learn of religious diversity in America. He
said that these types of visits have a "great influence" and are
beneficial to both the American and Kuwaiti peoples. The Charge
recommended that the Ministry work with the Public Affairs Section
to send as many as six other Ministry officials on similar programs
this year. The Undersecretary responded positively to the
recommendation and even suggested sending a higher number of
participants.


6. (U) Also discussed was an offer by the Charge to expand
understanding locally by arranging contacts with Kuwaiti Imams and
U.S. military chaplains at Camp Arifjan. Dr. Al-Falah said that he
would be happy to arrange such dialogues. On this topic, he also
noted that the Ministry maintains the Kuwaiti Center for Cultural
Exchange at the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City. This institution is a
teaching center for Westerners in Kuwait who wish to learn about
Islam. Dr. Al-Falah pointed out that in the past the center
coordinated special Arabic-language classes for U.S. military
personnel in Kuwait. He expressed a desire to further expand this
type of cooperation.

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