SAUDI KING TO ATTEND UNGA INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001574

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI KING TO ATTEND UNGA INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
SESSION

REF: A. VATICAN 77

B. USUN NEW YORK 860

C. RIYADH 1270

D. RIYADH 1170

E. MADRID 799

Classified By: AMBASSADOR FORD FRAKER,
REASONS 1.4, (B) AND (D).


1. (C) KING ABDALLAH TO NEW YORK: During an October 18
meeting, FM Saud Al-Faisal confirmed to Ambassador Fraker
that King Abdallah would address the UNGA meeting requested
by the Saudis to discuss their interfaith dialogue
initiative. The King will travel to New York accompanied by
a very large Saudi delegation to include numerous advisors
such as his half-brother Prince AbdalIlah in addition to the
FM. (Comment: we expect that the King will likely fly to New
York from Morocco o/a November 11. He is planning to travel
there for several days' of vacation at the beginning of
November, after the Crown Prince returns to from medical
leave in Geneva. End comment.)


2. (U) SAUD AL-FAISAL LETTER TO PGA: As reported in ref B,
in mid-September Prince Saud conveyed the Saudi request for a
High-Level Session. Specifically, Saud asked that it be
convened under the 63rd UNGA agenda item 48, "Culture of
Peace," "to inform the General Assembly of the process
initiated in Madrid and to provide the World Conference on
Dialogue with the necessary support from the international
community in order for it to be successful and productive.
Such a high-level meeting would further the purposes of the
United Nations in respect of dialogue between cultures and
religions." After intensive negotiations with, among others,
the Holy See (ref A),the UNGA President agreed and announced
that a plenary (rather than High Level) meeting would be held
on 12-13 November, urging all member states to participate
"at the highest possible level."


3. (C) WHY A UN SESSION? FM Saud explained that following up
on the Madrid Interfaith Conference (refs d & e) was among
the King's highest priorities. The Saudis believed that the
UN was key to institutionalizing the dialogue, hence their
request for a High Level Session. The hope was that high
level attendees would agree to the establishment of a
committee to oversee and galvanize international support for
continued discussions and action. The King was planning to
announce a substantial contribution to fund this effort,
which the Saudis hope will spur other donations.
Additionally, the Saudis would soon circulate the draft text
of what he characterized would be a "Presidential Statement"
issued at the conclusion of the debate. (Comment: he
avoided the term "outcome document" which is likely
intentional in view of the objections raised by the Vatican
and others about the Madrid Conference outcome document. See
ref E. End comment.)


4. (C) A BIG, AND POSSIBLY RISKY INVESTMENT: The Saudi
initiative has provoked much skepticism and bemusement
internationally. The self-styled "Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques" who rules a feudal desert Kingdom forbidding the
practice of religions other than Islam is seen as an unlikely
champion of tolerance. However, it has become clear that he
has expended much political capital as well as energy to win
domestic acceptance for the initiative (ref C). It appears
that the Interfaith Dialogue is a key part of the King's
strategy to strengthen his hand against reactionary internal
opponents of his plans for reform whose virulent intolerance
have helped fuel Islamist terrorism worldwide. Abdallah
apparently believes that a UN imprimatur would further
strengthen his credibility at home with skeptics within the
royal family. He seeks international acknowledgment of his
position as the world's senior Muslim leader, a status that
would provide both the authority and the imperative to
promote a more tolerant brand of Islam.


5. (S/NF) SENIOR LEADERSHIP SECURITY CONCERNS: Several
senior royals have confided worries that the King's trip to
New York entails considerable risk, both physically and
politically. They worry that if he does not win the UN
backing he seeks, he could find himself politically exposed
and vulnerable to a violent internal backlash.


RIYADH 00001574 002 OF 002



6. (C) AN OPPORTUNITY: Embassy believes that the King's
initiative provides an opportunity for increased engagement
that could profitably serve US interests in combating
terrorist ideologies and in promoting human rights and
religious freedom. Saudi calls for interfaith dialogue will
need to be met by concrete proposals and progress at home.
Although the Madrid Conference outcome document contained
some problematic specifics, we think that these could be
addressed through high-level engagement such as A/S Brian
Hook's upcoming visit, and via intensive contacts in New
York. We recommend high-level attendance at the UNGA session
to provide the encouragement the Saudis seek.
FRAKER