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.
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