OIC SYG ON KOSOVO, AMBASSADOR SWING, AND UPCOMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000091

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RIYADH PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, EUR,
IO, AND HERRO MUSTAFA IN P

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018
TAGS: PREL UN UNMIK KISL YI EU KV SA
SUBJECT: OIC SYG ON KOSOVO, AMBASSADOR SWING, AND UPCOMING
SUMMIT

REF: A. STATE 012428 B. STATE 016319 C. JEDDAH 00087

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Classified By: Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: The Consul General met with OIC
Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and other OIC

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officials to deliver demarches regarding Kosovo independence
(Reftels B, C) and support for Ambassador Swing's candidacy
for Director General (DG) of the International Organization
for Migration (IOM) (Reftel A),and to discuss the upcoming
OIC Summit in Dakar. Regarding Kosovo, while fully agreeing
with the USG position, Ihsanoglu stated that the European
Union split on Kosovo independence and Russia's strong
opposition to it had created tension among OIC member states
and urged the U.S. to "push harder" for OIC member state
support. On Ambassador Swing's candidacy, he acknowledged
that Swing was the USG's top candidate and OIC officials
stated their support for Swing's participation in the Summit.
Concerning the Summit, OIC Chief of Cabinet Ambassador
Shoukry Toufan highlighted review of the OIC Charter as an
agenda item and noted that member states needed additional
time to come to a consensus. Ihsanoglu in his remarks at the
February 18 preparatory meeting identified several political
issues on which the Summit agenda would focus. However, on
all three issues -- and despite previous claims that the
OIC's strength lies in its ability to act as a bloc -- member
states appear splintered. END SUMMARY.

OIC SYG URGES U.S. TO "PUSH HARDER" FOR KOSOVO SUPPORT


2. (C) Regarding Kosovo independence, OIC Secretary General
Ekmelledin Ihsanoglu stated that he and OIC member states
"followed closely" the situation. When asked to encourage
OIC member states to support Kosovo by the Consul General, he
fully agreed with the USG position but raised concerns over
the impact of the EU split on Kosovo, stating that Russia --
but not China -- influenced OIC member state opinion. He
added that only 51 of the 57 OIC member states had declared
their support for Kosovo's independence and called on the
United States to "push harder" for OIC member state support.
He particularly asked for USG pressure on Saudi Arabia in
this regard. The Consul General provided him with a copy of
President Bush's February 18 letter to Kosovo President
Fatmir Sejdiu and assured him that she would report to
Washington his request for increased U.S.-OIC member state
engagement on Kosovo.

OIC SUPPORTS SWING'S PARTICIPATION IN SUMMIT, INQUIRES ABOUT
RE-ELECTION OF CURRENT IOM DG


3. (C) On supporting Ambassador William Swing's candidacy for
Director General of the International Organization for
Migration (IOM),Ihsanoglu acknowledged that the U.S.
government believed Swing was the best candidate and inquired
whether current Director General of the IOM Brunson McKinley
was running for re-election. He also requested the biography
of Ambassador Swing, which Post subsequently provided. He
responded favorably to Swing's participation in the Summit.
Previously, OIC Director General for Political Affairs Mahdy
Fathallah told the Consul General that the OIC welcomed
Swing's attendance, stated that it would be mutually
beneficial to the U.S. and the OIC, and recommended U.S.
Embassy Dakar contact the Senegalese government to obtain an
invitation for Swing.

SUMMIT AGENDA TO INCLUDE CHARTER REVIEW AND SEVERAL POLITICAL
ISSUES


4. (C) Also present at the meeting OIC Chief of Cabinet
Shoukry Toufan said that the February 18 Summit preparatory
meeting focused mainly on review of the OIC Charter. When
asked how the new Charter would differ from the old by the
Consul General, he said that the proposed changes were
technical in nature, would not create "a change in purpose,"
and would seek to define the OIC as a political, rather than
religious organization. He added that member states
continued to debate "very sensitive issues" -- such as
"observer status and acceptance of new members" -- and that
the OIC may need more time to come to a consensus. He also
said that there was consensus that the OIC's name should be
changed from Organization of the Islamic Conference to
something reflecting its new reality as an organization, but
hinted that coming up with a consensus new name was much
harder than expected and still to be determined.


5. (U) Concerning political issues that may be on the agenda,
Ihsanoglu stated in his February 18 remarks: "...we (the
Islamic world) are still living under the strain of extremely

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difficult challenges and unprecedented threats to our faith,
our dignity and security. We are in urgent need to confront
all these predicaments and to devise opinions to deal with
them." He also stated that the Summit would deal with
"Islamophobia, globalization, combating international
terrorism and disarmament," "solidarity among OIC member
states," with special focus on "economic issues, oriented
towards African economies" and "the questions (sic) of Muslim
minorities."

COMMENT: OIC DIVISION HINDERS ABILITY TO INFLUENCE


6. (C) In meetings with OIC officials -- from the
working-level to that of Secretary General -- all have stated
that the U.S. can benefit from stronger relations with the
OIC, citing the OIC's unique perspective (Islamic) as well as
its global influence as one of the largest international
organizations. However, the OIC's ability to present a
unified front, and hence to influence, is mixed. On
international issues, member state positions regarding the
Gaza situation and the Danish cartoons republishing appear
unanimous but on Kosovo remain splintered. Internally,
member states continue to debate revision of the OIC Charter.
Such divisions will make it challenging for the
international community to interact with the OIC as Secretary
General Ihsanoglu desires: as a powerful, and monolithic
moderate Islamic bloc. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER