Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR381
2007-02-28 09:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA SEES PAKISTAN INITIATIVE AS CONTINUATION
how-toVZCZCXRO9935 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHKL #0381 0590929 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 280929Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8631 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHKL/ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KISL PK MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA SEES PAKISTAN INITIATIVE AS CONTINUATION
OF ARAB PEACE PROPOSALS
REF: ISLAMABAD 895
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b an
d d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KISL PK MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA SEES PAKISTAN INITIATIVE AS CONTINUATION
OF ARAB PEACE PROPOSALS
REF: ISLAMABAD 895
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b an
d d).
1. (C) Malaysia views the Pakistan-led Middle East peace
initiative as largely a continuation of earlier Arab peace
proposals, the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Multilateral Political Affairs Shahrul Ikram told polchief
February 28. Shahrul, who had just returned from the
Islamabad meeting (reftel),said the three to four-hour
discussion had remained very general. Contrary to some
reporting, in terms of seeking a Middle East solution, "there
was nothing new beyond the 2002 Arab peace proposals." Any
emerging ideas would "complement," not replace, earlier Arab
initiatives. The meeting also addressed in broad terms the
situation in Iraq and Lebanon, as well as the Iran nuclear
issue. The foreign ministers did not agree on a date for the
intended summit in Mecca.
2. (C) We asked for Shahrul's views on the significance of
Malaysia and Indonesia's involvement, along with other
non-Arab states. Shahrul said this represented a realization
that the problems in the Middle East were not Arab problems,
but concerns for the Islamic world as a whole. The
participation by Malaysia and Indonesia also could help
address the image problem facing Islam, and Malaysia in
particular could develop ideas for correcting
misunderstandings of the faith. (Comment: This is a role
Prime Minister and OIC Chairman Abdullah Badawi consistently
seeks to play on the world stage, holding up Malaysia's
successful economic development and political stability as a
model for Muslim-majority countries. End Comment).
LAFLEUR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KISL PK MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA SEES PAKISTAN INITIATIVE AS CONTINUATION
OF ARAB PEACE PROPOSALS
REF: ISLAMABAD 895
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b an
d d).
1. (C) Malaysia views the Pakistan-led Middle East peace
initiative as largely a continuation of earlier Arab peace
proposals, the Foreign Ministry's Under Secretary for
Multilateral Political Affairs Shahrul Ikram told polchief
February 28. Shahrul, who had just returned from the
Islamabad meeting (reftel),said the three to four-hour
discussion had remained very general. Contrary to some
reporting, in terms of seeking a Middle East solution, "there
was nothing new beyond the 2002 Arab peace proposals." Any
emerging ideas would "complement," not replace, earlier Arab
initiatives. The meeting also addressed in broad terms the
situation in Iraq and Lebanon, as well as the Iran nuclear
issue. The foreign ministers did not agree on a date for the
intended summit in Mecca.
2. (C) We asked for Shahrul's views on the significance of
Malaysia and Indonesia's involvement, along with other
non-Arab states. Shahrul said this represented a realization
that the problems in the Middle East were not Arab problems,
but concerns for the Islamic world as a whole. The
participation by Malaysia and Indonesia also could help
address the image problem facing Islam, and Malaysia in
particular could develop ideas for correcting
misunderstandings of the faith. (Comment: This is a role
Prime Minister and OIC Chairman Abdullah Badawi consistently
seeks to play on the world stage, holding up Malaysia's
successful economic development and political stability as a
model for Muslim-majority countries. End Comment).
LAFLEUR