USUN/IRAQ: AL-KHOEI BENEVOLENT FOUNDATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000610 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2008 TAGS: UN AORC KISL KDEM IZ SA SUBJECT: USUN/IRAQ: AL-KHOEI BENEVOLENT FOUNDATION Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor William J. Brencick For Rea sons: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (SBU) USUN Deputy PolCouns and PolOff met March 23 with Syed Meesam Razvi, the UN representative of the AlKhoei Benevolent Foundation, and three of his colleagues. AlKhoei Foundation is the only Shia NGO to have consultative status at the UN. The meeting -- the first initiated by the foundation with USG officials since Abdel Majid al-Khoei was murdered in Najaf in April 2003 -- addressed how to build the Foundation's ties with the USG and the UN and explored what role the Foundation might play in Iraq. ¶2. (SBU) Citing the UNSC role in the investigation of Rafiq Hariri's assassination, Razvi said Al-Khoei would like to see a UN role in the investigation of the Samarra bombing and claimed only a UN mantle would provide the investigation with the legitimacy necessary to reassure the Shia. USUN cautioned that the UN does not have the capacity to undertake the investigation (neither the forensics capability nor the ability to operate for a sustained basis in Samarra) and said Iraqi authorities are already pursuing the matter in cooperation with MNF. Razvi indicated that they would also explore this issue with Iraqi Mission and with Secretariat officials who work on Iraq. ¶3. (SBU) Razvi urged UNESCO to designate Iraq's holy Shia shrines as world heritage sites. He said such a designation would provide the shrines additional protection and prompt greater public outrage in the face of their desecration. At USUN request, he undertook to forward us a list of the sites that Al-Khoei wants designated. USUN also suggested Al-Khoie could brief DRL and country desks for the human rights and religious freedom reports, given the foundation's network of Shia leaders and information on the desecration of Shia sites. In this regard, Razvi said the Foundation was concerned about the rights of Shia in Saudi Arabia. ¶4. (SBU) Razvi and his colleagues expressed general concern about the negative image of the U.S. in the Islamic world. As immigrants to the U.S. (from Iraq, Pakistan, Zanzibar and Lebanon),they said disseminating information about the experiences of American Muslims and bringing Islamic leaders to the U.S. would help correct many of the misperceptions. In this context, Razvi said that many of the Islamic scholars invited to the U.S. by Al-Khoei Foundation often have trouble obtaining visas. USUN proposed to put representatives of the Foundation in touch with ECA and IIP to explore options related to USG visitor and speaker programs. Razvi said he would ask Foundation offices abroad to be in touch with U.S. embassies. ¶5. (SBU) The Foundation representatives also expressed a general interest in conducting educational, health and democracy projects in Iraq once the security situation improves. They also supported the establishment of a committee of leaders from all of Iraq's religious communities. ¶6. (C) Comment: This initial meeting was a fruitful exchange of ideas. The Foundation's New York office has had limited experience in working with the U.S. government. Although the representatives appear to have personal contacts in Iraq, those who visited USUN did not appear to have direct experience in overseas charitable work. BOLTON