U/S GLASSMAN ENGAGES SAUDI PRINCES AND PROFESSORS ON

UNCLAS RIYADH 001755


DEPT FOR R, NEA/PPD(BENZE),NEA/ARP(HARRIS),and IIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO PGOV OEXC SCUL ASEC PTER KWMN KISL SA
SUBJECT: U/S GLASSMAN ENGAGES SAUDI PRINCES AND PROFESSORS ON
LONG-TERM COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGIES


1. Summary and comment: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and
Public Affairs James K. Glassman engaged Saudi Princes Salman Ibn
Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, and Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of
Interior, and university professors in deliberations about
counterterrorism strategies and U.S and Saudi public images -
perceptions and misconceptions. During his November 18-20, 2008
visit, U/S Glassman stressed the value of long-term initiatives like
exchanges and dialogue to counter extremist views, particularly
among young people. Wide local media coverage further amplified the
message to Saudi and regional audiences. The timeliness of the
visit, following the recent initiatives by King Abdullah to further
interfaith dialogue and provide additional funding for educational
exchanges, and the high-level attention given the visit by the Saudi
government, further heightened media interest and increased public
awareness of shared bilateral interests. End summary and comment.

PRINCES SALMAN AND NAIF SUPPORT FUTURE COLLABORATION
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2. With the Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, U/S
Glassman discussed Al-Hurra programming, historical bilateral
relations, and common perceptions about Americans and Saudis. In a
meeting with Minister of Interior Naif bin Abdulaziz, U/S Glassman
reaffirmed U.S. interest in combating extremist ideology and
highlighted long-term strategies to engage youth. Prince Naif
expressed interest in future collaborative efforts, noting progress
in Saudi government support for educational opportunities for young
women.

ALUMNI SHARE NETWORKING ASPIRATIONS TO PROMOTE EXCHANGES


3. Ambassador Fraker hosted USG alumni and embassy contacts at a
representational event in honor of U/S Glassman. Guests shared
their aspirations for a strong network of Saudis capable of building
on King Abdullah's efforts to promote dialogue and cultural and
educational exchanges. Guests cited personal fulfillment derived
from their own US cross-cultural experiences. They noted the major
obstacles to reform, bureaucratic and otherwise, but they stressed
bilateral business and security interests as justification to
further strengthen relations.

CANDID DIALOGUE WITH PROFESSORS HEIGHTENS UNDERSTANDING


4. Saudi foreign policy advisors and professors at the Institute
for Diplomatic Studies deliberated over a multi-pronged approach to
countering extremism. At a roundtable discussion, U/S Glassman
fielded commentary addressing new ways to engage youth, the
promotion of educational and cultural exchanges, the value of
interfaith dialogue, the image of the U.S. in the Middle East, the
U.S. role in the international economy, foreign policy initiatives,
citizen involvement in public diplomacy efforts, and the need for
governments to mirror messages with actions. In this latter regard,
several speakers, as was to be expected, brought up the Israeli-Arab
conflict as a key factor undermining U.S. credibility. U/S Glassman
stressed U.S. commitment to settling the conflict, noting President
Bush's steadfast support for the two-state solution and Secretary
Rice's seventeen visits to the region.


5. In a roundtable discussion with professors representing the
Association for Media and Communication and the Saudi Social
Society, U/S Glassman engaged in a frank discussion of U.S. public
diplomacy efforts. Distinguished mass communication professionals
from King Saud University and Imam Mohamed Islamic University voiced
appreciation for U/S Glassman's candor on a range of topics from Al
Hurra's effectiveness to the frequent turnover of Undersecretaries
in his position. The energetic participants particularly noted U/S
Glassman's description of the region's media sector as highly
developed and competitive.


IMPRESSIONABLE STUDENTS AWED BY U/S'S ATTENTION


6. U/S Glassman visited a classroom of 15 English Access
Microscholarship students in the working class Riyadh neighborhood
of Suaidi, the neighborhood which served as the presumed setting for
much of the violence in the recent film, "The Kingdom." Students,
never before in the presence of a visiting U.S. dignitary and
somewhat intimidated, posed questions about U.S. higher education,
the presidential elections and the city of Las Vegas. Teachers and
administrators thanked the U/S for his visit and assured him that
such Embassy engagement strongly motivates the bashful but
nevertheless talented students.


MESSAGE AMPLIFIED VIA LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE


7. Saudi Channel II featured an interview on November 21 in which
U/S Glassman emphasized long-term public outreach goals that
encourage listening, explaining and exchanging information to
achieve stability and prosperity in the region. Saudi Press Agency
reported that Governor of Riyadh Prince Salman and Interior Minister
Prince Naif met separately with U/S Glassman and discussed issues of
mutual concern. Al-Riyadh reported on U/S Glassman's roundtable
discussion about the "War of Ideas" with professors at the Institute
for Diplomatic Studies. Al-Riyadh also highlighted group discussion
about King Abdullah's Interfaith Dialogue Initiative. Al-Madina
columnist and Imam Mohammed Islamic University Professor Abdullah
Al-Tayer referenced U/S Glassman's comments to criticize the
Al-Qa'eda ideology and leadership, writing: "A number of colleagues
and I gathered in an off-the-record discussion with a senior
American official who recently visited the Kingdom. The American
official noted that the King's interfaith initiative has been
positively received in the US. What draws my attention in the
comment of the official was his observation that this initiative
came from a religious Arab ruler. Therefore, it gained credibility
and was taken seriously by American officials and ordinary
citizens." He continued, "I ask myself, what would be the fate of
our (Islamic) nation and of the world if Al-Zawahiri and bin Laden
were able to gain power in a country?" Al-Tayer concluded: "Today
in the West, the Holy Qur'an is associated with terrorism, and the
Azan (prayer call) is associated with the murder of innocent
Westerners. How can we expect them to respect our religion and
principles? Instead of this destructive model ... King Abdullah, by
his leadership, is representing Islam to the world and restoring the
image of the Kingdom."

FRAKER