Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JEDDAH37
2009-01-27 14:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
INAUGURATION PROGRAM IN JEDDAH: SAUDI GUESTS
how-toVZCZCXRO6008 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHROV DE RUEHJI #0037 0271423 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 271423Z JAN 09 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1133 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
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
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
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