INFORMING THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS ABOUT THE

UNCLAS STATE 042613

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UN PREL SP TU OIIP
SUBJECT: INFORMING THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS ABOUT THE
CITIZEN DIALOGUE PROGRAM



1. This is an action request. USUN, please see para 2
below; Embassies Madrid and Ankara, please see para 3
below.


2. Department requests that USUN deliver the message in
para 4 below from Acting Assistant Secretary Kurt Volker
to the Alliance of Civilizations High Representative Jorge
Sampaio. The Department does not intend to release this
letter. There will be no signed original.


3. Department requests that Embassy Madrid and Embassy
Ankara deliver the message in para 4 below to host
government's respective Foreign Ministers -- Miguel Angel
Moratinos and Ali Babacan. The Department does not intend
to release this letter, but has no objection should the
GOS and GOT wish to do so. There will be no signed
original.

4. Begin text.

Dear High Representative Sampaio:

I am pleased to announce that Secretary Rice has
identified the U.S. Department of State,s Citizen Dialogue
Program as a program that furthers the objectives of the
Alliance of Civilizations. The Citizen Dialogue Program
sends smallgroups of American Muslims overseas
to share their experiences with a range of audiences in
foreign countries. The goals of the program include
taking part in an open dialogue about life in America and
Islam in America, freedom of faith, pluralism, respect,
and mutual understanding of culture and civilizations.
This person-to-person program also will develop new
bridges among diverse communities. These objectives are
compatible with Alliance of Civilization's goals of
furthering understanding between cultures, developing
links between individuals and groups interested in
promoting intercultural understanding, and reaching out to
youth.

The focus of the Citizen Dialogue Program is primarily on
local Muslim communities, religious leaders, government
officials, NGOs, business leaders, youth and civil
society. Participants share their first-hand experiences
of life in the United States and also talk with the
media. Particular attention is given to young
people in these communities. Under this worldwide
program, American Muslim leaders have visited numerous
countries in Europe, as well as in Asia, Africa, and the
Middle East. In our current fiscal year, four Citizen
Dialogue teams will visit about a dozen countries in
Europe, with additional trips to other regions. The next
dialogues will be in Spain and Austria in late April.

We look forward to the results of this program.

Sincerely,

Kurt Volker
Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs


cc: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan

End text.
RICE