MAURITANIANS REACT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CAIRO

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000375 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM KPAO MR SUBJECT: MAURITANIANS REACT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CAIRO SPEECH REF: SECSTATE 55334 ¶1. (SBU) The speech: In response to Reftel, Post hosted twenty political actors, religious leaders, and journalists at the Embassy to watch President Obama's speech delivered at Cairo University on June 4. The audience watched and listened intently to the live satellite broadcast of the speech, which was translated simultaneously into Arabic. Cell phones were uncharacteristically quiet during the speech. While every Qur'aanic citation in President Obama's speech elicited murmurs from people uttering the verses in Arabic, the following five phrases generated applause throughout the room (the audience also applauded at the end of the speech): - "I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear." - "Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President..." - "Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism - it is an important part of promoting peace." - "I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year." - "The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. Americans will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own." ¶2. (SBU) The discussion: After the speech, attendees were encouraged to offer their reactions and impressions. Many attendees noted the "new beginning" in U.S. policy, and its contrast to recent past behavior. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a popular theme, and several commended President Obama for being "the first President to raise the issue of the rights of Palestinians." His display of respect towards Islam, particularly through the usage of Qur'aanic quotations, was particularly appreciated. Regarding Iraq and Afghanistan, several attendees stated there was "nothing new" in President Obama's statements, while some speakers lamented that he had condemned Hamas for using violence, but had not done the same for Israeli violence against Palestinians. "Hamas is extremist, yes, but not as extremist as Netanyahu," one attendee said. Another attendee said President Obama reminded him very much of President Kennedy, while another said that Obama reflected "the ideals of liberty, fraternity, and solidarity -- ideals that unfortunately have been missing for a long time." This same speaker went on to ask whether President Obama was really expressing the American people's new vision, or whether he was just a visionary and a man ahead of his time. "If it's the former -- I congratulate you. If it's the latter -- I have great fear for him, including for his life. Look at what happened to Kennedy," he declared. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: With a tentative agreement to the Mauritanian political crisis reached in Dakar, Post invited pro-coup figures in addition to anti-coup figures to an Embassy event for the first time in many months. One pro-coup guest requested permission from Post to bring along one of General Aziz's strong supporters in a clear signal that Aziz's camp is eager for U.S. recognition. Reactions to the speech were largely favorable, with several Mauritanians saying "congratulations" to EmbOffs at the end of the event. Issues pertaining to Islam and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict appeared to garner the most reactions; curiously, there were few reactions to the sections of President Obama's speech regarding democracy. Given Mauritania's difficult journey towards democratic rule, and the recent tenuous political agreement to the crisis, perhaps no one felt like reopening wounds and rocking the boat. End comment. BOULWARE