US-ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM: IMPACT COMES ON THE MARGINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000143 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019 TAGS: PREL KPAO QA SUBJECT: US-ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM: IMPACT COMES ON THE MARGINS Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH E. LEBARON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D ). -------------- (SBU) KEY POINTS -------------- -- The sixth annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum, organized jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brought together dozens of academics and politicians from the United States and the Muslim World to lead discussions on topics such as public opinion trends, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the financial crisis, and the Administration's approach to the Muslim world. -- Current and former USG officials such as CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus, former SecState Madeleine Albright, and Congressmen Brian Baird and Keith Ellison, participated in the Forum as well as events organized by the Embassy, including dinners, public diplomacy outreach and media interviews, including with Al Jazeera (septel). -- GEN Petraeus heard from prominent Qataris that the Administration should consult Qatar's leaders on regional dilemmas, as they want to play a positive and supportive role, and felt that they were disregarded by the previous Administration. -- Qatar's Prime Minister conveyed this same message to Dr. Albright in a private meeting. -------------- (SBU) COMMENTS -------------- -- Conferences such as the Brookings event are, first and foremost, a Qatari tool to increase the country's international profile. -- U.S. participants in this annual event tell us that the formal panel discussions were insightful, but not groundbreaking. According to them, the real value of the Forum, which is organized at Qatari expense, comes on the sidelines as participants exchange ideas and proposals privately. -- Virtually no Qataris attended the Forum (they are not the organizers' principal audience). But Embassy took advantage of the presence of prominent Americans at the event to arrange speaking engagements with key Qatari audiences, all of which responded positively, especially to Congressman Ellison. END KEY POINTS AND COMMENTS ¶1. (SBU) For the sixth year running, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Saban Center on Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, convened a U.S.-Islamic World Forum, bringing together dozens of academics, politicians and social activists from the United States and the Muslim world. Topics addressed during panel discussions included trends in public opinion among the world's Muslims; the Arab-Israeli conflict; the financial crisis; energy policy; and the Administration's approach to the Muslim world. ¶2. (SBU) General David Petraeus, Madeleine Albright and the Qatari Prime Minister spoke at the opening plenary session devoted to "common challenges." Also on the panel were Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, Saeb Erekat of the Palestinian Authority, and Barham Salih, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq. ¶3. (SBU) Later in the Forum, Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA) addressed how the United States and the Muslim world could work together through science education to strengthen knowledge societies. Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-MN) spoke on a panel devoted to the Administration's approach to the Muslim world. ¶4. (SBU) On the margins of the Forum, Ellison appeared on Al Jazeera's Arabic channel as the "mid-day guest," and was also interviewed by Turkish national television and Egypt's Al-Hayat TV. Each interview focused on his experiences as the first Muslim member of Congress and how the Obama Administration would approach the world's Muslims. Ellison also granted an interview to Qatari Arabic daily "Al Watan." ¶5. (SBU) Ellison spoke to the dean, faculty and students at Qatar University's Sharia College and responded to questions about religious freedom and the lives of ordinary Muslims in the United States. The Congressman also spoke to a gathering of young Qatari men organized by the General Youth Authority. DOHA 00000143 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Congressman Baird granted an interview to Arabic daily "Al Raya," and visited the Qatar Science and Technology Park as well as the campus of Texas A&M University at Qatar for briefings on joint U.S.-Qatari science and research projects. ¶7. (C) At a dinner in honor of General Petraeus held by the Ambassador, prominent Qatari guests told the General and the Congressmen that the Administration would do well to consult closely with Qatar's leaders on regional issues, as they want to be helpful in resolving them. The Minister of Finance noted that Qatar represented ExxonMobil's biggest investment in the world. An Amiri advisor noted that Qatar's agenda does not differ from that of the United States because "we want regional stability to promote our economy; remember, regional problems impact us first." ¶8. (C) The advisor said that Qatar's leaders believed that they were "sticking their necks out" to support the United States economically and militarily, and yet the Amir was "snubbed" by not being received for a state visit in Washington by the previous Administration and by President Bush engaging in "childish games" by skipping Qatar on his tour of the region in early 2008. ¶9. (C) According to Madeleine Albright, the Qatari Prime Minister conveyed a positive message to her in a private meeting, noting that Qatar wanted a "new chapter" with the USG and that it should be possible for Qatar to find ways to be supportive of the United States on regional policies. LeBaron