SR PANDITH REACHES OUT TO NEXT GENERATION OF KUWAITI

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001052

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/SRMC, NEA/ARP (JSAWYER),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KISL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: SR PANDITH REACHES OUT TO NEXT GENERATION OF KUWAITI
LEADERS


1. (U) Summary: Special Representative for Muslim Communities Farah
Pandith's October 26-28 visit to Kuwait concentrated on outreach to
students and young leaders active in civil society in a wide variety
of ways. Throughout her visit, SR Pandith emphasized her strong
interest in helping Kuwait's young people network with like-minded
individuals around the world. During a meeting with the Under
Secretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, SR Pandith
heard about the efforts of the Ministry's Center for Moderation in
combating Islamic extremism. SR Pandith stressed the need for
future cooperation and the exchange of information and the need to
work jointly on promoting and encouraging moderation. End summary.


2. (U) During her first visit to the Middle East in her capacity as
Special Representative for Muslim Communities, SR Pandith met in
multiple meetings with dozens of university students and young
people active in non-governmental organizations. She described the
Secretary's vision for engagement with Muslim communities in the
21st century, as outlined by President Obama in his Cairo and Ankara
speeches. She emphasized her mission to serve as Secretary
Clinton's advisor on Muslim engagement and to work with embassies at
a grassroots level. She said she will serve as the convener,
facilitator and intellectual partner with civil society and will
bring like-minded people together to promote and support ideas and
initiatives for the common good, with a focus on the next
generation. She reiterated the same goals during a luncheon with
Ambassador Deborah K. Jones; Dr. Badria Al-Awadhi, a prominent
female human rights lawyer; Dr. Rawda Awwad, Assistant Dean at the
American University of Kuwait; and Dr. Fahed Al-Ajmi, Executive
Director of the American-Kuwaiti Alliance. This approach to
engagement was received positively.


3. (U) In addition to describing the goals and activities of their
respective organizations, a number of the young NGO leaders and
bloggers shared with SR Pandith their frustrations with what they
perceive as an increase in recent years of government censorship
targeting everything from imported books and DVDs to domestic blogs,
art and music. Several young film makers noted their films could
only be screened outside of Kuwait. (Note: Embassy Kuwait will
report on the issue of censorship septel. End note). During one
gathering with both liberal and conservative university students, SR
Pandith offered her support to a student who expressed an interest
in launching an anti-racism campaign at his university. Post and
SRMC will work together to be helpful toward this effort.


4. (U) During SR Pandith's meeting at the Ministry of Awqaf's
Moderation Center, Under Secretary Dr. Adel Al-Falah described the
Center's efforts to study the sociological, psychological and
political roots of sectarianism, tribalism and Islamic extremism, to
prevent and combat such divisive and dangerous attitudes and
behavior, and to promote tolerance and moderation. Dr. Al-Falah
stressed that the studies had revealed that extremism was not an
indigenous phenomena in Kuwaiti society but rather an exterior
influence that had affected a very small number of individuals. The
Center's focus had therefore shifted from trying to remedy the
problem to protecting young people from the dangers of extremist
thought. Dr. Al-Falah also described the Center's work in other
countries, especially in the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan and Russia,
where it had established similar moderation centers. Finally, he
highlighted the success of a conference, held in 2006 in Washington,
D.C. and organized by the Moderation Center in conjunction with the
Embassy of Kuwait, to "promote moderation and reconfirm that Islam
is a religion of peace and tolerance." At the conclusion of the
meeting, SR Pandith and Dr. Al-Falah agreed to exchange information
on future projects and to work jointly on promoting and encouraging
moderation.


5. (U) At a press round-table with ten journalists, SR Pandith
underscored the unprecedented dedication the American government is
placing on engagement with Muslims and Muslim communities around the
world. She also spoke about the importance of the President's
laying the foundation for "a new beginning," i.e. "mutual interest
and mutual respect." She conveyed Secretary Clinton's priority in
turning that vision into a reality, in part by establishing -- for
the first time -- an office tasked with reaching out to Muslim
communities on a people to people level. SR Pandith described her
mission as engaging in dialogue, building networks, listening to the
voices of young Muslims, developing ways to work together and
serving as a connector for like-minded young people around the world
to forge partnerships for the common good. The following day, all
ten newspapers represented reported on the meeting accurately. The
journalists' positive reaction and interest in this new approach was
reflected in their reporting.


6. (U) This cable was cleared by SR Pandith.

JONES