OIC SYG CALLS MEETING WITH SECRETARY "HISTORIC"--

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000407

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, IO, S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2029
TAGS: PREL PHUM KISL KPAL WBG SA
SUBJECT: OIC SYG CALLS MEETING WITH SECRETARY "HISTORIC"--
EAGERLY AWAITS ANNOUNCEMENT OF SPECIAL ENVOY

REF: A. 09 JEDDAH 51

B. 09 JEDDAH 121

C. 09 JEDDAH 123

D. 09 JEDDAH 186

E. 09 JEDDAH 214

F. 09 JEDDAH 284

JEDDAH 00000407 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Returning from a recent trip to the U.S. with
Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary
General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, OIC senior official Ufuk Gokcen
discussed the highlights of the visit, including the long
anticipated meeting between SYG and Secretary Clinton.
According to Gokcen, SYG Ihsanoglu called the meeting
"historic" and was pleased to hear of the impending
appointment of a Special Envoy to the OIC. Gokcen provided
brief update of issues the OIC hopes to tackle with the new
U.S. Special Envoy in its ongoing efforts to raise its
visibility and status on the international stage. END
SUMMARY.

REQUESTED ENVOY IMMINENT
--------------

2. (C) In October 10 meeting with PolOff, OIC senior official
Ufuk Gokcen discussed OIC Secretary General Ihsanoglu's
September visit to the U.S. which included engagements with
high level U.S. officials and prominent U.S. institutions. On
the margins of UNGA, Ihsanoglu hosted a reception in honor of
the OIC's 40th anniversary, which Ambassadors Rice and
Bremmer both attended. SYG's Washington itinerary included
visits to Brookings Institute, East West Institute,
Georgetown University, Rumi Forum, and the Washington
Institute of Peace. He delivered several speeches on
improving U.S.-Islamic relations and POTUS' outreach to the
Muslim World.


3. (C) However, the highlight of SYG's trip, according to
Gokcen, was his long-awaited meeting with Secretary Clinton,
in which a number of issues were raised and discussed,
perhaps none more important, from the OIC's perspective, than
the appointment of a Special Envoy to the OIC. Gokcen noted
that SYG was excited to learn of the imminent announcement of
an envoy and was pleased that the USG took the OIC's advice
of ensuring that the appointee be a Muslim with ties to the
President.

ERADICATING POLIO
--------------

4. (C) Regarding ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, Gokcen
said that the OIC is working well with the WHO to develop
national campaigns to combat the disease and that it is
focusing most of its efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan at
present. He noted that Dr. Razley Bin Nordin, Director
General of the Department of Science and Technology at the
OIC, was in Islamabad helping to develop President Zardari's
recently announced national campaign to eradicate polio.
Gokcen also pointed to the Islamic Fiqh Academy's fatwa
urging the ministries of health in Muslim countries to
promote campaigns for vaccination against the disease while
calling on parents to have their children vaccinated.


5. (C) Gokcen stated that regarding the vaccination issue it
is imperative that the new envoy promote the OIC's
partnership with the U.S. since doing so will attract more
philanthropists in the Muslim world to take up the cause.

MATERNAL/INFANT HEALTH: OIC AWAITS USG INPUT
--------------

6. (C) Noting that Secretary Clinton stressed a strong
personal interest in the Maternal and Child Health program
during their September meeting, Gokcen said the OIC would be
working to build upon the cooperation framework signed
between DOS/AID and the OIC last year, adding that Dr. Razley
Bin Nordin would be able to provide further updates upon his
return. He later commented that he worries, with respect to
this program, that "the OIC is waiting for suggestions from
the U.S. while the U.S. is waiting for suggestions from the
OIC." Hoping to inspire movement from the OIC side, Gokcen
said he plans to advise SYG to hire a special consultant to
work on this issue specifically.

OIC PLANS DC SYMPOSIUM ON US-ISLAMIC RELATIONS

JEDDAH 00000407 002.2 OF 002


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7. (C) Gocken said the OIC has been hoping for some time to
organize a joint event with a major U.S. institution or
university, preferably the Washington Institute of Peace or
Georgetown University. He suggested a theme related to POTUS'
June 4 Cairo speech but said the organization was completely
open to ideas from the U.S. While the OIC would welcome the
participation of academics, Gokcen said it would prefer the
forum to be driven by high level political officials.


8. (C) COMMENT: The OIC continues its quest to raise its
visibility and status on the international stage by
partnering with the U.S. The appointment of a special envoy
will demonstrate that the USG takes the organization
seriously, and will provide greater opportunities for
advocacy on issues of interest to the USG.
END COMMENT.

QUINN.
QUINN