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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001035 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2013 
TAGS: ASEC CIA EU EUN KISL PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SA
UNFPA, UNGA 
SUBJECT: SAUDI KING ON MADRID INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE 
 
REF: USUN 555 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ford Fraker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  In a June 29 meeting with Senator John Kerry 
(D-MA) in Jeddah, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 
elaborated on furthering global religious tolerance and 
combating extremism through the Inter-Faith Dialogue he 
launched, where the next step will be a multi-faith 
conference, including Christian, Jewish and Muslim 
representatives, scheduled for July 16 in Madrid.  The King's 
comments reflected a new position for the SAG in its handling 
of other religions and demonstrating a willingness to accept 
other religions as faiths that are equal to Islam.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
THREE GREAT COMMON RELIGIONS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) In his meeting with Sen. Kerry, accompanied by the 
Ambassador and DCM, a healthy-looking King Abdullah gave an 
animated and energetic overview of the upcoming multi-faith 
conference scheduled for July 16 in Madrid.  The King 
explained this is part of the Inter-Faith Dialogue he 
launched earlier in 2008.  There had been an Islamic 
conference in Mecca earlier in June, where Islamic clerics of 
various sects were represented.  The purpose was to achieve a 
unity of faith to do away with animosities that stemmed from 
the different interpretations of Islam.  Abdullah expressed 
satisfaction that this Islamic conference had been a success. 
 
 
¶3. (C) The next step for the Inter-Faith Dialogue would be a 
multi-faith conference to include the "three great" 
monotheistic religions - Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. 
Abdullah stated he had previously discussed this type of 
conference with Pope Benedict and former British Prime 
Minister Tony Blair.  He added his scheduled 30 minute Papal 
meeting stretched into 90 as they discussed the idea of the 
Inter-faith Dialogue.  Spain was chosen as the location for 
the upcoming multi-faith conference because Spain had 
previously been home to Jews, Christians and Muslims where 
they had all lived in peace, so what better symbolic location 
than the Iberian peninsula to host such a gathering. 
Abdullah added he had consulted with Spanish King Juan Carlos 
who had been enthusiastic about having this conference in 
Madrid. 
 
¶4.  (C) Abdullah continued that the Torah, Koran and the 
Gospel all preach the same message from the same God.  All 
were suitable for teaching moral values and to stop what 
Abdullah described as "the breakdown of the family." 
Throughout this discussion, Abdullah was visibly excited 
about this upcoming multi-faith conference in Madrid and was 
eagerly awaiting participating in it. 
 
WAY TO BEAT EXTREMISM 
--------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT.  The upcoming multi-faith Madrid conference 
sponsored by Saudi Arabia is extremely significant.  Saudi 
Arabia has long been known for its religious intolerance and 
xenophobic attitude towards outsiders.  It is remarkable that 
King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is now 
equating Judaism and Christianity with Islam. 
 
¶6. (C) Abdullah believes Islam has been hijacked by violent, 
radical extremists, who have threatned Saudi Arabia itself. 
A reconciliation movement such as King Abdullah's Inter-Faith 
Dialogue is a viable venue to counter this extremism.  That 
Saudi Arabia is the sponsor of this Dialogue, and is actually 
getting traction from other Muslims, including the Saudi 
 
RIYADH 00001035  002 OF 002 
 
 
religious establishment, is even more telling.  This 
Inter-Faith Dialogue could be a method to counter the threat 
of extremist terrorist ideology and help eliminate future 
generations of turning to religious violence.  END COMMENT. 
FRAKER