Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK196
2008-03-03 21:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
SECOND OIC REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN NEW
how-toVZCZCXYZ1493 OO RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0196 0632107 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 032107Z MAR 08 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3836
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP OIC UN
SUBJECT: SECOND OIC REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN NEW
YORK
REF: USUN 0102
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP OIC UN
SUBJECT: SECOND OIC REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN NEW
YORK
REF: USUN 0102
1. During a brief meeting on February 28, Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) Permanent Observer to the UN
Ambassador Abdul Wahab handed Ambassador Khalilzad a letter
in which he reiterates and expands upon an earlier request
(see reftel) that his UN observer office be granted
diplomatic status. Abdul Wahab noted that former U/S Burns
was aware of the request and that the UN SYG considers this
an important issue. Text of the February 28 note, which has
been faxed to IO/UNP Edmondson, appears in paragraph 3 below.
2. Department may wish to consider this request in the light
of our appointment of a special envoy to the OIC.
3. Begin text of OIC note: Excellency: On behalf of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),I have the
honor to request favorable consideration by the Government of
the United States with regard to the issue of diplomatic
status to the OIC through its Permanent Observer Mission to
the United Nations in New York. In this context, kind
attention is invited to the Diplomatic Note dated 21 January
2008 sent by the Permanent Observer of the OIC to the
Permanent Mission of the United States.
It may be noted that this request is in pursuance to Article
146 of the Final Communiqu of the Annual Coordination
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States
held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 2 October 2007.
The same has been circulated as official UN document
(A/62/507; S/2007/636).
As Your Excellency is aware, the OIC has served as a
representative voice for the Islamic World since its
inception and has strived to promote cooperation in the
social, economic, political, and cultural spheres among its
Member States. As the second largest inter-governmental
organization in the world, second only to the UN, the OIC
represents the voice of a fifth of humanity. It has strived
tirelessly to promote moderation and tolerance in the Islamic
World and develop greater understanding between the Islamic
World and the West, particularly with the United States and
Europe.
The OIC is currently represented in the United States and the
UN through its Permanent Observer Mission in New York. The
Mission serves as the focal point for coordination between
the US Government and OIC Headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC
Mission also works to promote initiatives in the realm of
inter-faith and inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation,
both at the level of the United Nations, as well as through
the media, academia, inter-faith institutions and other civil
society entities in the United States.
However, the work of the OIC Mission is severely inhibited by
the absence of diplomatic status from the host government.
For example, the visiting delegates from the OIC
Headquarters, including even the OIC Secretary General, face
a host of serious difficulties that commence upon arrival at
a US port of entry. The employees of the OIC Mission are
issued visitor visas which create uncertainties with regard
to their status and stay.
It may be noted that the Permanent Observer Mission of the
OIC in Geneva has enjoyed diplomatic status from the Swiss
Government for many years now.
While we recognize that the process of granting diplomatic
status to the OIC will follow course in accordance with the
laws of the United States, we believe that the time is right
for the initial steps to be taken in this process, given the
scope of the OIC to serve as a key player in the realms of
common concern to the United States and the Muslim World.
The OIC in fully confident that with Your Excellency's kind
assistance, the request for granting diplomatic status to the
OIC will be bought to the attention of the concerned
authorities of the United States for favorable consideration.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration. /s/ Abdul Wahab, Ambassador and Permanent
Observer of the OIC to the UN, New York. End text.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP OIC UN
SUBJECT: SECOND OIC REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN NEW
YORK
REF: USUN 0102
1. During a brief meeting on February 28, Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) Permanent Observer to the UN
Ambassador Abdul Wahab handed Ambassador Khalilzad a letter
in which he reiterates and expands upon an earlier request
(see reftel) that his UN observer office be granted
diplomatic status. Abdul Wahab noted that former U/S Burns
was aware of the request and that the UN SYG considers this
an important issue. Text of the February 28 note, which has
been faxed to IO/UNP Edmondson, appears in paragraph 3 below.
2. Department may wish to consider this request in the light
of our appointment of a special envoy to the OIC.
3. Begin text of OIC note: Excellency: On behalf of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),I have the
honor to request favorable consideration by the Government of
the United States with regard to the issue of diplomatic
status to the OIC through its Permanent Observer Mission to
the United Nations in New York. In this context, kind
attention is invited to the Diplomatic Note dated 21 January
2008 sent by the Permanent Observer of the OIC to the
Permanent Mission of the United States.
It may be noted that this request is in pursuance to Article
146 of the Final Communiqu of the Annual Coordination
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States
held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 2 October 2007.
The same has been circulated as official UN document
(A/62/507; S/2007/636).
As Your Excellency is aware, the OIC has served as a
representative voice for the Islamic World since its
inception and has strived to promote cooperation in the
social, economic, political, and cultural spheres among its
Member States. As the second largest inter-governmental
organization in the world, second only to the UN, the OIC
represents the voice of a fifth of humanity. It has strived
tirelessly to promote moderation and tolerance in the Islamic
World and develop greater understanding between the Islamic
World and the West, particularly with the United States and
Europe.
The OIC is currently represented in the United States and the
UN through its Permanent Observer Mission in New York. The
Mission serves as the focal point for coordination between
the US Government and OIC Headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC
Mission also works to promote initiatives in the realm of
inter-faith and inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation,
both at the level of the United Nations, as well as through
the media, academia, inter-faith institutions and other civil
society entities in the United States.
However, the work of the OIC Mission is severely inhibited by
the absence of diplomatic status from the host government.
For example, the visiting delegates from the OIC
Headquarters, including even the OIC Secretary General, face
a host of serious difficulties that commence upon arrival at
a US port of entry. The employees of the OIC Mission are
issued visitor visas which create uncertainties with regard
to their status and stay.
It may be noted that the Permanent Observer Mission of the
OIC in Geneva has enjoyed diplomatic status from the Swiss
Government for many years now.
While we recognize that the process of granting diplomatic
status to the OIC will follow course in accordance with the
laws of the United States, we believe that the time is right
for the initial steps to be taken in this process, given the
scope of the OIC to serve as a key player in the realms of
common concern to the United States and the Muslim World.
The OIC in fully confident that with Your Excellency's kind
assistance, the request for granting diplomatic status to the
OIC will be bought to the attention of the concerned
authorities of the United States for favorable consideration.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration. /s/ Abdul Wahab, Ambassador and Permanent
Observer of the OIC to the UN, New York. End text.
KHALILZAD