MUSLIM AMERICAN CONGRESSMAN IN NORWAY ON FAITH,

UNCLAS OSLO 000040

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KISL KPAL KIRF OREP NO
SUBJECT: MUSLIM AMERICAN CONGRESSMAN IN NORWAY ON FAITH,
PEACE, AND COMBATING U.S. STEREOTYPES


1. (U) SUMMARY: The visit of Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN)
to Oslo 7-11 January focused on peace and reconciliation in
the Middle East and establishing ties to Norway. It was a
boon to post's interfaith outreach and helped combat
stereotypes of the United States and administration policy.
END SUMMARY.

Peace and Reconciliation
--------------

2. (U) Ellison's visit was arranged by the MFA after he met
with their embassy in Washington to discuss his role as the
new Congressman for one of the most traditionally
Norwegian-American constituencies in the United States. He
sought to learn about Norway's tradition of peace and
reconciliation efforts and to explore inter-faith dialogue as
a component of peace, especially in the Middle East.
Congressman Ellison has previously traveled to the Gulf
States and Israel, as well as to Syria with Speaker Pelosi.


3. (SBU) During his meetings with the MFA, peace research
institutes such as PRIO and NUPI, the parliament's Committee
on Foreign Affairs and at former PM Bondevik's Oslo Center,
Ellison elicited expert analysis of the Middle East peace
process in the wake of Annapolis and the role of Iran. He
heard calls for more pressure on Israel to provide better
access and support for international organizations to assist
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, to reduce Jewish
settlements, and pull back to or near the 1967 borders. All
were grudgingly positive towards the Annapolis effort, but
opinions varied as to whether it would have any significant
impact. The Norwegians promoted increased dialogue with Iran
as critical to obtaining regional stability, but agreed that
the current Iranian administration was 'disruptive and
negative.'

Embassy Outreach
--------------

4. (U) Reaching out to youth leadership in Norway's immigrant
community (which includes a high percentage of African, Arab,
and South Asian members),post hosted a reception in
Congressman Ellison's honor at the Embassy. Response to the
invitation was very positive, with many guests requesting to
bring a friend or group with them to the event. Ellison spoke
briefly and positively about his experience as a black Muslim
in the U.S., discussed the importance of inter-faith
dialogue, challenged stereotypes about attitudes towards the
U.S. and U.S policy, and then took questions. Audience
members did not hold back, asking him about reparations for
slavery, how he could represent a country that was 'at war
with Islam' and whether he was able to speak freely in the
United States as someone who critiques the administration's
policies. The positive and fair responses that he gave
impressed skeptical listeners. The event went 40 minutes
over schedule because they continued to ask questions of the
Congressman after he was done speaking. Students approached
embassy officers to talk about study opportunities in the
U.S. and several guests expressed gratitude for the event.


5. (U) As a result of the event, the Embassy has been
encouraged to co-host an event for Black History Month with
the Nobel Center that will focus on civil rights in the U.S.
and celebrate the achievements of Nobel Peace Prize winner
Martin Luther King, Jr. We have also been invited to
participate in a lunch with young Pakistani-Norwegian leaders
to discuss current politics in the Pakistani community in
Norway. In response to attendee interest, post will seek a
speaker for the second half of 2008 to continue the
discussion on diversity and immigration issues from personal
experience. Post will continue to emphasize education in the
United States as part of the Ambassador's campaign to double
the number of Norwegian students (of all races, colors, and
faiths) studying in the U.S. by 2012, providing direct
exposure to the diversity of the United States.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: While clearly critical of administration
approaches, Congressman Ellison took on some caricatures of
U.S. policy with conviction. Having him tell young Muslims
how the U.S. has protected Muslims and how the Administration
reaches out to Muslims at home and abroad was extremely
valuable. Ellison's visit helped counter simplistic and
irrational anti-Americanism, while also demonstrating the
range of views in the United States. END COMMENT.
WHITNEY