U.S.-ISLAMIC FORUM: SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS TO

UNCLAS DOHA 000043 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY (CAPTION REMOVED) FROM AMBASSADOR TO ATTENDEES OF U.S.-ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OVIP OREP OTRA QA SUBJECT: U.S.-ISLAMIC FORUM: SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS TO ADVANCE THE PRESIDENT'S CAIRO SPEECH ¶1. (U) As you prepare for the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, please find below some suggested talking points from Embassy Doha for you to use while here. They are designed to help promote the President's Muslim engagement agenda as outlined in his June 2009 address in Cairo. But first, our thoughts about your media engagement: -------------- MEDIA ENGAGEMENT -------------- ¶2. (U) With more than 35 million daily viewers, the Al Jazeera Arabic news channel is the most pervasive information source in the Arab world. Al Jazeera's English channel claims a large viewership in Africa. Both channels will be eager to receive USG officials; the Mission strongly recommends, and would be pleased to arrange, interviews. While anchors ask tough questions, Al Jazeera typically provides U.S. officials with the opportunity to make their points to these important audiences. -------------- ACCOMPLISHING SHARED INTERAGENCY GOALS: SOME SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS -------------- ¶3. (U) Since the President's Cairo speech, Embassy Doha has tried to synchronize its interagency resources and activities in order to advance the President's Muslim engagement agenda. The Embassy is targeting the following areas for interagency focus: entrepreneurship, food security, and science and technology (S&T) cooperation. ¶4. (U) Fortunately, these priority areas mesh well with Qatar's own development objectives as laid out in Qatar's "National Vision 2030." Focusing our work in areas in which the President's Cairo agenda and Qatar's National Vision intersect has proven to be a powerful "force multiplier" for the Embassy. -------------- ENTREPRENEURSHIP -------------- ¶5. (U) In Cairo, the President promised to host an Entrepreneurship Summit to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs. Embassy Doha will send two successful Qatari businesswomen to the summit. ¶6. (U) Regionally, Qatar's First Lady has established "Silatech," a youth employment initiative focused on the Middle East and North Africa. Its goal is to connect youth with employment opportunities through market-driven training, job creation, access to capital, and policy reform. How your visit can help: -- Meet with the women who will attend the Entrepreneurship Summit to help them make their participation and follow-on activities as fruitful as possible. -- Explore ways in which a partnership with Silatech may be able to widen and deepen the Summit's outcomes in the region. -------------- FOOD SECURITY -------------- ¶7. (U) As you know, President Obama is launching a Global Food Security Initiative. Fortuitously, Qatar is developing its own plan to achieve food security for Qatar, to include developing new solar technologies to desalinate large quantities of water for use in irrigation. These technologies, once proven in Qatar's harsh climate, would then be shared, through multilateral institutions, with other sun-rich, water-poor countries in the region. How your visit can help: -- Use the following talking points during your engagement as appropriate: -- I have heard that Qatar is pursuing the complex issue of food security with great energy and creativity. -- I know the USG appreciates your focus on this vital subject of great common concern. -------------- Science and Technology -------------- ¶8. (U) The President called for a renewed focus on S&T cooperation. With substantial financial resources, six U.S. university campuses, and an S&T business park that includes several U.S. companies, Qatar presents an excellent opportunity to promote S&T cooperation and public-private partnerships with the Arab world. Important: Qatar wishes to partner with the USG and others on projects and initiatives that help Qataris develop their own skills and capacity. Tin cup solicitations routinely fail here. Qataris will politely hear us out, but only very rarely take action. How your visit can help: -- Discuss ways the USG can encourage and support the participation of more U.S. companies in joint projects, particularly in renewable energy, at the Qatar's science and technology business park; -- Explore partnerships between Qatar Foundation's Sidra Hospital, a facility with a USD 8 billion endowment focused on women's and children's health, and U.S. institutions; -- Consider how National Science Foundation (NSF) regulations could be modified to allow American academics working at American institutions in Doha to apply for grant funding. -------------- Point of Contact -------------- ¶9. (U) USG visitors should contact Mission Doha's point of contact, Public Affairs Officer Joey Hood, at their earliest convenience. Please include each visitor's objectives for their visit (we are happy to work with you to develop individualized engagement opportunities as resources permit) and indicate their availability for media opportunities. Email: HoodJR2@state.gov; Phone: 974-553-4171. Nantongo