OIC-USG COOPERATION ON POLIO: NEXT STEPS FOLLOWING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000284

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, IO, OES/IHB, USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KISL OFDP OPDC PREL SA
SUBJECT: OIC-USG COOPERATION ON POLIO: NEXT STEPS FOLLOWING
JEDDAH MEETINGS

JEDDAH 00000284 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: OIC officials are ready
and willing to cooperate on the joint initiative to eradicate
polio proposed by President Obama in his Cairo speech --
although they need to obtain a final endorsement from OIC
Secretary General Ihsanoglu. The OIC's institutional
limitations suggest that it is better suited to engaging in a
political and diplomatic initiative, while the GCC could be
better placed to provide technical cooperation (septel).
USDEL and OIC counterparts discussed a number of possible
next steps, including activities on the margins of the
upcoming UN General Assembly, with a major event for the 40th
anniversary of the OIC and an OIC ministerial meeting noted
as two possibilities among them.


2. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: The OIC requested that the U.S.
provide asap a list of proposals for joint
political/diplomatic activities that could be undertaken in
furtherance of the polio initiative. END SUMMARY AND ACTION
REQUEST.

POLIO'S LAST MILE IS THE HARDEST
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BUT THE OIC IS READY TO HELP
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3. (SBU) OIC officials including Ufuk Gokcen, Adviser to the
Secretary General, and Razley Nordin, Director General of the
OIC Science and Technology Committee, met July 26 with
representatives from CDC, USAID, Embassy Riyadh, and ConGen
Jeddah to follow up President Obama's announcement in Cairo
of a new joint initiative to combat polio. The OIC officials
took the point that a high proportion of the remaining cases
of polio are within OIC member states or countries with
significant Muslim populations (especially Nigeria,
Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) and that a concerted push
from Muslim leaders, organizations, and religious figures
would be the most effective strategy towards final
eradication of the disease. Gokcen confirmed that "at the
political/diplomatic level, the OIC is willing to do whatever
needs to be done." Gokcen and his colleagues felt generally
that the resources of the OIC would be best used for
diplomatic efforts aimed at moving member states toward
greater action on polio as well as creating opportunities and
events that bring additional attention to polio throughout
the Islamic world.

NEXT STEPS
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4. (SBU) Based on points supplied by Department, the USDEL
discussed a number of potential next steps, including:


A. Letters to Leaders: The OIC agreed that letters from the
Secretary General or OIC member heads of state could be a
useful way to focus the attention of the leaders of
polio-afflicted states, and proposed that President Obama
send similar letters.


B. Joint Delegations: The OIC was receptive to the idea of
sending joint U.S./OIC delegations to key countries to meet
with officials responsible for polio eradication.


C. OIC Polio Envoy: OIC officials indicated that the OIC
could appoint a special envoy for polio, including the
possibility that this envoy might be someone of celebrity
status in order to bring greater awareness of the need to
eradicate polio.


D. Joint Events in Endemic Countries: OIC officials expressed
interest in the idea of holding an advocacy event, most
likely in Pakistan or Nigeria, in order to draw attention to
the issue of polio eradication, and preferably in connection
with the beginning of an immunization campaign in the
selected country.


E. Cooperation with the GCC: OIC officials responded very
positively to the idea of incorporating the GCC into the
initiative, noting that the GCC and its member countries have
greater technical and financial resources than the OIC.
Gokcen agreed that the proposal suggested a division of labor
wherein the GCC provides technical expertise within the

JEDDAH 00000284 002.2 OF 002


larger framework of OIC cooperation with the U.S.


F. Fiqh Academy: The OIC noted it has approached the
OIC-related Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) academy to request a
new fatwa, or religious decree, urging Muslims to adhere to
recognized standards of polio prevention. This would be the
second such fatwa. The first was issued under the name of a
single scholar only; the new fatwa would carry more weight
since it would be issued by the Jeddah-based academy as a
whole.

UNGA OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES
--------------


5. (SBU) USDEL also discussed possible follow-up actions
connected to the upcoming UN General Assembly, including:


A. Follow-up meeting in NY/DC: Gokcen and other OIC officials
will be in New York in September and October for the UN
General Assembly, and would like to have a follow-up meeting
at that time in New York or Washington. Due to tight
scheduling constraints, it was suggested that planning for
this meeting begin immediately.


B. 40th Anniversary of the OIC: The OIC will host a
reception for heads of state at the Waldorf Astoria in New
York September 24 to commemorate its 40th anniversary.
Gokcen said he expected substantial high level attendance
from OIC member states, and agreed that the event would be an
ideal platform to raise awareness and support for polio
eradication, possibly by having the Secretary General
directly address the polio issue in his remarks.


C. OIC Ministerial Meeting: The OIC will also hold a
ministerial meeting on the margins of UNGA, and Gokcen agreed
it would be desirable to put the polio initiative on the
ministers' agenda.


D. S - Ihsanoglu Meeting: The OIC has requested a meeting
between the Secretary General and Secretary
Clinton to occur in September or October in New York or
Washington. This meeting -- should it be scheduled -- could
include polio as an agenda item and produce a joint statement
in support of the President's initiative.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: The U.S. team found itself pushing on an
open door. The OIC is ready to cooperate, although its
limited resources are likely best used in creating a high
level buzz around the issue of eradicating polio while
technical and financial resources are sought elsewhere,
possibly from the GCC. The 40th anniversary of the OIC event
along with the ministerial meetings on the margins of the
UNGA could be prime opportunities to promote the initiative
among OIC members and the global community. An opportunity
for a follow-up to the July 26 meeting is possible in
September or October and would be useful to keep longer-term
plans moving. END COMMENT.
QUINN