DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION TO OPEN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000678

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM QA
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY FOUNDATION TO OPEN CONFLICT RESOLUTION
CENTER

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b and d).

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- Arab Democracy Foundation (ADF) Director Dr. Mohsen
Marzouk told Ambassador November 12 that in March or April
2010 his organization would announce the opening of a Center
for Conflict Mitigation in Doha. ADF is also considering
opening bureaus of the Center in Khartoum and Beirut.

-- The ADF Director said that the work of the Center would
focus on conflicts throughout the BMENA region.

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Comments
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-- The Arab Democracy Foundation is a regional foundation,
funded with a grant by Shaykha Mozah bin Misned, wife of
Qatar's Amir. It is a part of neither the Qatar Foundation,
with Shaykha Mozah heads, nor the Government of Qatar.
Shaykha Mozah, however, is the chair of ADF's board of
trustees, and, if and when she chooses, Shaykha Mozah could
exercise enormous influence over the policies and operations
of ADF. She has not yet so chosen.

-- For the USG, the Arab Democracy Foundation can be a useful
partner in any effort to organize civil society in Darfur,
where ADF has been quite active with civil groups there for
over a year.

-- ADF could also be helpful in Somalia; most of the Somali
parties have representatives in Doha, and ADF is in contact
with many of them.

-- Additional information about ADF is available at
http://adf.org.qa

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (SBU) Ambassador met November 12 with Arab Democracy
Foundation (ADF) Director Mohsen Marzouk. The meeting was
held at Dr. Marzouk's request. Also present at the meeting
were ADF Deputy Director of Programs Wafa'a Omar and Poloff
Caudill. At the meeting, Marzouk revealed that the ADF would
open a Center for Conflict Mitigation at its Doha offices.
The ADF will officially announce the opening of this Center
in March or April, 2010, with operations to begin shortly
thereafter.


2. (SBU) Ambassador inquired about the focus of the Center's
efforts. Marzouk explained that the Center would seek to
study and mediate conflicts throughout the Broader Middle
East and North Africa, consistent with the original
initiative set forth at the 2004 G8 Summit at Sea Island,
Georgia (Note: The nations which fall under the BMENA
initiatives are Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran,
Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco,
Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,
Turkey, UAE, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. End Note).


3. (SBU) Marzouk said that the Center would be located in the
second villa at the ADF offices in Doha, and that the ADF
would consider opening bureaus in Khartoum and Beirut. The
Beirut bureau would also monitor events in Iraq.


4. (SBU) Marzouk noted that only one other center for dispute
resolution currently operates in the region. It is located
in Beirut and focuses exclusively on conflicts in Lebanon.
Marzouk has already held meetings in Morocco and Bahrain
trying to build support for the anticipated work of the
Center.


5. (C) Marzouk requested that the U.S. assist the Center by
offering political support, technical assistance, and
expertise. Marzouk said that he was encouraged by the U.S.
support for Qatar's candidacy as co-host of the 2010 Forum
For the Future, and hoped that the two countries would use
this and other opportunities to narrow the gaps between them.
LeBaron