VZCZCXYZ1493
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0196 0632107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 032107Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3836

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OFDP OIC UN
SUBJECT: SECOND OIC REQUEST FOR DIPLOMATIC STATUS IN NEW 
YORK 
 
REF: USUN 0102 
 
 ¶1.  During a brief meeting on February 28, Organization of 
the Islamic Conference (OIC) Permanent Observer to the UN 
Ambassador Abdul Wahab handed Ambassador Khalilzad a letter 
in which he reiterates and expands upon an earlier request 
(see reftel) that his UN observer office be granted 
diplomatic status.  Abdul Wahab noted that former U/S Burns 
was aware of the request and that the UN SYG considers this 
an important issue.  Text of the February 28 note, which has 
been faxed to IO/UNP Edmondson, appears in paragraph 3 below. 
 
¶2.  Department may wish to consider this request in the light 
of our appointment of a special envoy to the OIC. 
 
¶3. Begin text of OIC note:  Excellency:  On behalf of the 
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), I have the 
honor to request favorable consideration by the Government of 
the United States with regard to the issue of diplomatic 
status to the OIC through its Permanent Observer Mission to 
the United Nations in New York. In this context, kind 
attention is invited to the Diplomatic Note dated 21 January 
2008 sent by the Permanent Observer of the OIC to the 
Permanent Mission of the United States. 
 
It may be noted that this request is in pursuance to Article 
146 of the Final Communiqu of the Annual Coordination 
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States 
held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 2 October 2007. 
The same has been circulated as official UN document 
(A/62/507; S/2007/636). 
 
As Your Excellency is aware, the OIC has served as a 
representative voice for the Islamic World since its 
inception and has strived to promote cooperation in the 
social, economic, political, and cultural spheres among its 
Member States.  As the second largest inter-governmental 
organization in the world, second only to the UN, the OIC 
represents the voice of a fifth of humanity.  It has strived 
tirelessly to promote moderation and tolerance in the Islamic 
World and develop greater understanding between the Islamic 
World and the West, particularly with the United States and 
Europe. 
 
The OIC is currently represented in the United States and the 
UN through its Permanent Observer Mission in New York.  The 
Mission serves as the focal point for coordination between 
the US Government and OIC Headquarters in Jeddah.  The OIC 
Mission also works to promote initiatives in the realm of 
inter-faith and inter-civilization dialogue and cooperation, 
both at the level of the United Nations, as well as through 
the media, academia, inter-faith institutions and other civil 
society entities in the United States. 
 
However, the work of the OIC Mission is severely inhibited by 
the absence of diplomatic status from the host government. 
For example, the visiting delegates from the OIC 
Headquarters, including even the OIC Secretary General, face 
a host of serious difficulties that commence upon arrival at 
a US port of entry.  The employees of the OIC Mission are 
issued visitor visas which create uncertainties with regard 
to their status and stay. 
 
It may be noted that the Permanent Observer Mission of the 
OIC in Geneva has enjoyed diplomatic status from the Swiss 
Government for many years now. 
 
While we recognize that the process of granting diplomatic 
status to the OIC will follow course in accordance with the 
laws of the United States, we believe that the time is right 
for the initial steps to be taken in this process, given the 
scope of the OIC to serve as a key player in the realms of 
common concern to the United States and the Muslim World. 
 
The OIC in fully confident that with Your Excellency's kind 
assistance, the request for granting diplomatic status to the 
OIC will be bought to the attention of the concerned 
authorities of the United States for favorable consideration. 
 
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest 
consideration. /s/ Abdul Wahab, Ambassador and Permanent 
Observer of the OIC to the UN, New York.  End text. 
KHALILZAD