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INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0472

UNCLAS OSLO 000040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KISL KPAL KIRF OREP NO
SUBJECT: MUSLIM AMERICAN CONGRESSMAN IN NORWAY ON FAITH, 
PEACE, AND COMBATING U.S. STEREOTYPES 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The visit of Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) 
to Oslo 7-11 January focused on peace and reconciliation in 
the Middle East and establishing ties to Norway.  It was a 
boon to post's interfaith outreach and helped combat 
stereotypes of the United States and administration policy. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
Peace and Reconciliation 
------------------------ 
¶2. (U) Ellison's visit was arranged by the MFA after he met 
with their embassy in Washington to discuss his role as the 
new Congressman for one of the most traditionally 
Norwegian-American constituencies in the United States.  He 
sought to learn about Norway's tradition of peace and 
reconciliation efforts and to explore inter-faith dialogue as 
a component of peace, especially in the Middle East. 
Congressman Ellison has previously traveled to the Gulf 
States and Israel, as well as to Syria with Speaker Pelosi. 
 
¶3. (SBU) During his meetings with the MFA, peace research 
institutes such as PRIO and NUPI, the parliament's Committee 
on Foreign Affairs and at former PM Bondevik's Oslo Center, 
Ellison elicited expert analysis of the Middle East peace 
process in the wake of Annapolis and the role of Iran.  He 
heard calls for more pressure on Israel to provide better 
access and support for international organizations to assist 
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, to reduce Jewish 
settlements, and pull back to or near the 1967 borders. All 
were grudgingly positive towards the Annapolis effort, but 
opinions varied as to whether it would have any significant 
impact. The Norwegians promoted increased dialogue with Iran 
as critical to obtaining regional stability, but agreed that 
the current Iranian administration was 'disruptive and 
negative.' 
 
Embassy Outreach 
---------------- 
¶4. (U) Reaching out to youth leadership in Norway's immigrant 
community (which includes a high percentage of African, Arab, 
and South Asian members), post hosted a reception in 
Congressman Ellison's honor at the Embassy. Response to the 
invitation was very positive, with many guests requesting to 
bring a friend or group with them to the event. Ellison spoke 
briefly and positively about his experience as a black Muslim 
in the U.S., discussed the importance of inter-faith 
dialogue, challenged stereotypes about attitudes towards the 
U.S. and U.S policy, and then took questions.  Audience 
members did not hold back, asking him about reparations for 
slavery, how he could represent a country that was 'at war 
with Islam' and whether he was able to speak freely in the 
United States as someone who critiques the administration's 
policies.  The positive and fair responses that he gave 
impressed skeptical listeners.  The event went 40 minutes 
over schedule because they continued to ask questions of the 
Congressman after he was done speaking. Students approached 
embassy officers to talk about study opportunities in the 
U.S. and several guests expressed gratitude for the event. 
 
¶5. (U) As a result of the event, the Embassy has been 
encouraged to co-host an event for Black History Month with 
the Nobel Center that will focus on civil rights in the U.S. 
and celebrate the achievements of Nobel Peace Prize winner 
Martin Luther King, Jr.  We have also been invited to 
participate in a lunch with young Pakistani-Norwegian leaders 
to discuss current politics in the Pakistani community in 
Norway. In response to attendee interest, post will seek a 
speaker for the second half of 2008 to continue the 
discussion on diversity and immigration issues from personal 
experience.  Post will continue to emphasize education in the 
United States as part of the Ambassador's campaign to double 
the number of Norwegian students (of all races, colors, and 
faiths) studying in the U.S. by 2012, providing direct 
exposure to the diversity of the United States. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: While clearly critical of administration 
approaches, Congressman Ellison took on some caricatures of 
U.S. policy with conviction.  Having him tell young Muslims 
how the U.S. has protected Muslims and how the Administration 
reaches out to Muslims at home and abroad was extremely 
valuable.  Ellison's visit helped counter simplistic and 
irrational anti-Americanism, while also demonstrating the 
range of views in the United States. END COMMENT. 
WHITNEY