AL JAZEERA RENEWS OFFER OF FREE BROADCAST HOUR TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000146

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL JAZEERA RENEWS OFFER OF FREE BROADCAST HOUR TO
USG

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH E. LEBARON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
).

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- Al Jazeera Chairman of the Board Sheikh Hamed bin Thamer
Al Thani told Ambassador on February 19 that he continues to
believe that providing access to Al Jazeera's airwaves to USG
officials is essential to accurately portraying the news to
Arabic-speaking audiences.

-- The Sheikh reiterated his willingness to allow the USG a
full, free broadcast hour to present its views from
Washington or Doha, on any topic, in a format of our choosing.

-- In the week leading up to this meeting with the Sheikh,
Al Jazeera conducted interviews with at least four current
and former senior USG officials, including the Ambassador,
which contained no surprises and were aired in a
straightforward manner.

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COMMENTS
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-- Embassy will also continue conveying to Al Jazeera at all
levels that the more professionalism we see on the screen,
the more likely it will be that the USG will take it more
seriously.

END KEY POINTS AND COMMENTS



1. (C) Sheikh Hamed bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman of the
Board of the Al Jazeera Network, told Ambassador on February
19 that official U.S. voices were essential to Al Jazeera's
efforts to present viewers with both sides of issues
dominating the daily news. To accurately capture the U.S.
position on events in the Middle East, he said, it is
critical for Al Jazeera to have access to USG guests who are
willing to appear and present their views.


2. (C) In that regard, the Sheikh reiterated an offer made
to Ambassador in October 2008 for the USG to present its
views on a 9/11 documentary aired by Al Jazeera during a free
broadcast hour. Ambassador asked if that offer could be
amended to include another topic that the USG may wish to
address, such as the Administration's approach to the Muslim
world. Sheikh Hamed said the USG could choose any topic, in
any format, broadcast from any city with an Al Jazeera
bureau, including Washington, London and Doha. The important
thing, he stated, was for Arab viewers to hear directly from
the United States Government.


3. (C) In this connection, Sheikh Hamed thanked the
Ambassador for his February 17 appearance in Arabic on Al
Jazeera's 1800GMT news bulletin to convey the USG's views of
the agreement signed that day in Doha between the Government
of Sudan and a Darfur rebel movement. He invited Ambassador
to appear again at a time and on topics of his choosing.


4. (SBU) In the week leading up to Ambassador's meeting with
Sheikh Hamed, at least three other current and former USG
officials were interviewed by Al Jazeera, which the officials
characterized as straightforward and with no surprises.
These included:

-- Congressman Keith Ellison on Al Jazeera Arabic as the
"Mid-Day Guest" on the 1330GMT news bulletin, regarding the
Administration's relations with the Muslim world;

-- Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Doug Hengel on Al
Jazeera Arabic's main daily business news report, regarding
energy policy;

-- Former SecState Madeleine Albright on Al Jazeera Arabic
and English, regarding the annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum.
LeBaron