INAUGURATION PROGRAM IN JEDDAH: SAUDI GUESTS

UNCLAS JEDDAH 000037 SIPDIS RIYADH PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KISL KMPI KPAO OPRC PHUM SA SCUL SOCI XF SUBJECT: INAUGURATION PROGRAM IN JEDDAH: SAUDI GUESTS OBSERVE HISTORIC EVENT AND LOOK FOR CHANGE IN AMERICAN POLICY ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On January 20 Post hosted over 200 Saudi and foreign contacts )- youth, business people, KSA government officials, diplomats and the American expat community )- at the Consulate to watch the Presidential Inauguration in real-time. Participants appreciated the opportunity to watch the historic Inauguration in a large gathering on the ConGen compound. Alumni of ECA programs and US universities videotaped messages about their American experience to be posted on the ConGen website. Young people wrote personal messages to the new President. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The special atmosphere of the historic occasion was strongly felt by guests whose reaction to President Obama's inaugural speech was overwhelmingly positive. The Jeddah audience was keenly attentive to the President's remarks addressed to the Muslim world. The conclusion of the speech was received with long applause and warm congratulations extended to ConGen staff and Amcits present. ¶3. (SBU) Many younger guests wrote messages to the incoming President focusing on the historic implications of the election for African Americans while expressing hope for regional peace and offering thanks and congratulations to the President for his speech. A sampling follows. Messages in English: -- Hatem Allaf (Saudi business college student): "To President Obama, Congratulations ... that's all!" -- Lina Nabulsi Saleh (Palestinian high school student): "Before wishing you all the luck on the great hard time we are all facing in the world ... I am here to celebrate a dream of a normal black man ... a dream that would have been a crazy thing 50 years ago ... and to a man who made his dream come true ... so we might all be able to do the same. I wish you'll make the new America what we dream of." -- Harris Bokhari (Saudi high school student): "Congratulations on becoming the 44th President of the United States. If you are personally reading this, I am honored to write it. I look forward to the changes that you will bring and the new era you have begun. Maybe one day I can have the pleasure of meeting you in person." -- Bilal Zoulfikar Raychouni (Pakistani high school student): "President Barack Obama, It is with great honor that I congratulate you on your victory, and I am sure that the only downside of your administration will be that late night talk show hosts will have nothing to talk about! Congratulations and good luck." -- Ahmad A. Mahayri (Syrian entrepreneur): "To President Obama, Thank you for your inauguration speech. Thank you for mentioning us in your first presidential speech. We respect you and your country more and more, we love USA. KEEP US IN YOUR MIND; WE'LL KEEP YOU IN OUR HEARTS..." Messages in Arabic (translated): -- Hisham Binjabi (Saudi artist): "Mr. President Barack Obama, Greetings from the heart to you ... your inauguration speech was impressive and clear; it made me proud. I liked the ceremony and the performance of the artists was original. I wish you all the luck and my prayers are with you." -- Badr Saleh Assery (Saudi medical student): "Mr. Obama, I congratulate you on the new government. All I wish from you is that the United States plays a leading role in bringing forth peace in the Middle East without being partial to Israel. I also hope that you fulfill your promises and close Guantanamo Bay as soon as possible." ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT. The inauguration was the final element in a series of four election-related programs held in Jeddah and aimed at informing the Saudi public of the US electoral process. In general the Saudi audience expressed a strong sense of hope and optimism about the new administration while calling for major change in US policy in the Middle East and specifically concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. END COMMENT. QUINN