OIC ENVOY SADA CUMBER'S VISIT TO PAKISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001811

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: OIC ENVOY SADA CUMBER'S VISIT TO PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD 00001811 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary. In meetings May 2 with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the General Coordinator of the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific
and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH),the Chairman of the
Council of Islamic Ideology, journalists, religious leaders
and scholars, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC),Sada Cumber, explained his
mandate, briefed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
outlining U.S. cooperation with the OIC in the areas of
science and technology, education, and the advancement of
women, and vigorously defended the freedoms of American
Muslims to worship and thrive in U.S. society. End summary.


Freedom of Speech
--------------


2. (SBU) Accompanied by Acting DCM, U.S. Special Envoy to the
OIC, Sada Cumber, briefed Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah
Mahmood Qureshi and Additional Secretary for the United
Nations Desk, Khalid Aziz Babar, on his initiatives to bring
better cooperation between the OIC and the U.S. through his
appointment. In addition, he presented to Qureshi a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and the
OIC, focusing on science and technology, education, and the
advancement of women. Both Qureshi and Babar expressed
gratitude to the USG for appointing Cumber to this position;
however, they noted that the majority of the Pakistan
population failed to appreciate the USG insistence in
protecting free speech in the face of media (Danish cartoons
or the Dutch video) that were seen as insults to Islam. The
Envoy said that he too was offended by these "bigoted"
attacks on his faith, but the fact remained that this kind of
speech should not be punishable just because it offends.

Advancing Science and Technology
--------------


3. (SBU) The Envoy met with Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, the
Coordinator General of the OIC's Islamabad-based COMSTECH,
the OIC standing committee that coordinates science and
technology programs among the OIC member countries. Rahman
reported that COMSTECH was currently working on 130 projects
in 27 member countries, primarily focusing, at this time, on
training for science policy officials. Cumber stressed that
the COMSTECH projects needed to focus on the grassroots
promotion of innovation and promote long-term
commercialization.


4. (SBU) Cumber explained that he had briefed his draft MOU
to OIC authorities in Jeddah but was frustrated at the lack
of interest he received. Enthusiastic about COMSTECH
cooperation with the U.S., Rahman suggested that COMSTECH
sign the MOU while the entire OIC continued to consider it.
Delighted, Cumber asked how quickly COMSTECH could make a
decision; Rahman promised to review the draft MOU and respond
to Cumber by May 8. Rahman expressed an interested in joint
projects be created to benefit the OIC members to include
agriculture research and water management. Rahman noted that
U.S. funding could also be used to augment national
innovation funds, financial commitments made by separate OIC
countries for the development of science and technology. The
Envoy said that the OIC planned to develop digital libraries
in the ten poorest OIC countries in an attempt to assist them
economically and was responsive to Rahman's offer to sign the
Envoy's MOU with the U.S. on behalf of COMSTECH.

Other Pakistan Engagements
--------------


5. (SBU) In a meeting with Dr. Khalid Mahsood, the Chairman
of the Council of Islamic Ideology (the government entity
that examines whether the laws of Pakistan are in accordance
with Islamic law),the Envoy explained that the U.S. model of
how Muslims interact should be replicated world wide. Cumber
noted that unlike the current trend in other parts of the
Muslim world, no one ever asks whether a Muslim in the U.S.
is a Sunni or Shi'a because it did not matter. Dr. Khalid
appreciated the U.S. Muslim model and opined that it should
be showcased to a wider audience. He also noted that the
Council was currently working on a global model of Muslim

ISLAMABAD 00001811 002.2 OF 002


family law that embraced this ideal of unity. However, Dr.
Khalid also pointed out that the perception of the U.S.
currently was negative in Pakistan. Cumber also invited Dr.
Khalid and the other Council members, who will be traveling
to the U.S. in mid-June on an International Visitor Program,
to accompany him in a series of briefings to work on better
methods of inter-faith dialogue.


6. (SBU) At both the roundtable with the journalists and at
the inter-faith dinner, the Envoy asked the respective
attendees on how the USG could return to the days in the
Muslim world, notably Pakistan, where the U.S. could proudly
display its name on the services that it has provided without
fear of retaliation. Media representatives suggested the
U.S. talk to the common man and not just the national and
provincial leadership. By discussing the amount of USG
resources going into Pakistan, the negative perception will
change and the "USA label" can be attached to a project or
funding initiative once again. Attendees at the inter-faith
dinner described a lack of transparency in where the foreign
funding is actually goes is preventing the Pakistan citizenry
from fully embracing the U.S. projects. Many people see the
money as just going into the pockets of the leadership.


7. (SBU) The National Art Gallery was honored to have the
Envoy open a new exhibit, entitled "Building Islam in
Detroit" which showcased the growing Muslim population in the
Michigan city and how the culture has blossomed in the art,
music, and architecture produced.


8. (U) This message has been cleared by Special Envoy Sada
Cumber.
PATTERSON