SAUDIS AND PGA ON REVISED STATEMENT FOR INTERFAITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001049

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2018
TAGS: PREL UNEP KISL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDIS AND PGA ON REVISED STATEMENT FOR INTERFAITH
DIALOGUE

REF: USUN 1042

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) In a November 9 meeting, Ambassador Khalilzad and
Saudi FM Prince Saud discussed a revised draft statement (see
text and action request in paragraph 5) that reflects changes
requested by the EU. (Comment: The statement appears to
retain all the elements specifically requested by the
Department while removing some of the controversial parts.
End Comment) Prince Saud said that in a meeting on November
7 with President of the General Assembly (PGA) d'Escoto, Saud
made clear to the PGA that while he can say whatever he wants
in his opening speech on the morning of November 12, when he
reads the statement at the conclusion of the meeting on
November 13 he must read it exactly as written. Ambassador
Khalilzad confirmed that he would strongly reinforce that
message in his meeting with the PGA later that day.


2. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad and Saud went over the options if
the PGA does not agree: holding a joint press conference
with the King and SYG Ban, or with Saud and the Deputy
Secretary General (if Ban does not stay for the second day of
the meeting); or circulating the statement as a document of
the General Assembly. They also discussed attendance at the
meeting, noting that UK PM Gordon Brown and Afghan President
Karzai will now both be there. Prince Saud expressed
surprise that SYG Ban will not attend, calling it
"unprecedented" and saying, "We told him we are shocked" at
his absence. Ambassador Khalilzad noted that he would be
seeing the SYG the next day and would raise this with him
again.


3. (C) In his meeting shortly thereafter with the PGA,
Ambassador Khalilzad explained to the PGA that there are two
issues: 1) what the PGA says in his own speech at the
opening of the meeting; and 2) the statement that could be
issued by the PGA at the end of the meeting, which is
essentially a summary of what was discussed at the meeting.
Ambassador Khalilzad gave the PGA the revised statement and
assured him that it had been agreed to by the EU. The PGA
read it over and said, "I have absolutely no objection,"
adding that he especially liked the final two paragraphs,
which he felt said everything necessary. The Ambassador
confirmed with the PGA three times during the conversation
that the PGA was happy with the statement and would read it
exactly as written. The PGA agreed that the Ambassador could
tell the Saudis and others that he would read this statement
unchanged at the end of the meeting.


4. (C) The PGA said that his opening speech would focus on
asking people to draw from their innermost sacred values and
put them to use in promoting interfaith dialogue. He noted
that he had removed from his draft anything that might be
deemed offensive by anyone, and added that he had agreed to
share his draft speech with Prince Saud at the end of the
first day (November 12),since he would not put the final
touches on it until he heard what people said during the
first day of the meeting. (Note: We will seek clarification
on this point from the PGA, since he is scheduled to make his
own speech at the beginning/beginning of the first day. End
Note.)


5. (SBU) Action request: Post requests that Dept. provide
clearance for the revised text below.

Begin revised text of Saudi statement:

General Assembly meeting on interfaith dialogue


At the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,
King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud of Saudia Arabia, the
General Assembly convened a plenary high level meeting during
its sixty-third session on 12 and 13 November 2008 under item
45 culture of peace.

The meeting reaffirmed the purposes and principles enshrined
in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. The meeting further recalled
that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to
promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for
all, including freedoms of religion and expression, without
distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

Concerned about serious instances of intolerance,
discrimination, hatred expressions, and harassment of
minority religious communities of all faiths, participating
states underlined the importance of promoting dialogue,
understanding, and tolerance among human beings, as well as
respect for all their diverse religions, cultures and beliefs.

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Participating states affirmed their rejection of the use of
religion to justify the killing of innocent people and
actions of terrorism, violence and coercion, which directly
contradict the commitment of all religions to peace, justice
and equality.

Taking note of the World Conference on Dialogue held in
Madrid between 16 and 18 July 2008 under the patronage of the
Kings of Saudi Arabia and Spain, the General Assembly
reiterated its call for the promotion of a culture of
tolerance and mutual understanding through dialogue, and for
supporting the initiatives of religious leaders, civil
society, and states seeking to entrench the culture of peace,
understanding, tolerance, and respect for human rights among
the proponents of various faiths, cultures, and civilizations.

Participating states expressed their commitment to
strengthening and supporting existing mechanisms within the
United Nations for promoting human rights and tolerance,
protecting the environment, spreading education, eradicating
poverty, and fighting drug abuse, crime and terrorism, noting
the positive role of religions, beliefs and moral
humanitarian principles in tackling these challenges.

End statement text.

Khalilzad