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P 022023Z DEC 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1987

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001126 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF KISL UNGA
SUBJECT: UN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE: MEMBER STATES REJECT 
RELIGION AS JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 120844 
 
¶1. Summary: President Bush and approximately 80 heads of 
state, senior government officials, and other representatives 
gathered November 12 - 13 for an "Interfaith Dialogue" as 
part of the United Nations General Assembly (GA) plenary 
session.  Saudi King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz al-Saud, the 
driving force behind this meeting, criticized terrorists who 
purported to act in the name of religion.  Israeli President 
Shimon Peres reached out to the many leaders of Arab states 
in the room by describing the Arab peace initiative as "a 
serious opening for real progress."  President Bush 
emphasized freedom of religion and noted that for generations 
the United States has defended the religious liberty of 
others.  Delegates thanked King Abdullah for his leadership, 
expressed support for the July 2008 Madrid Conference, and 
called for continued interfaith initiatives.  Some raised the 
threat of "Islamophobia" and alluded to restrictions on 
Freedom of Expression as a solution.  Following the 
conclusion of the Interfaith Dialogue, SYG Ban and Saudi 
Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal held a press conference 
during which SYG Ban read a declaration affirming member 
states' rejection of the use of religion to justify acts of 
terrorism, violence, and coercion.  End Summary. 
 
PGA Focuses on Shared Morals and Values; 
SYG Calls for Dialogue that Delivers 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. A Saudi-driven "Interfaith Dialogue" was held under the 
agenda item "Culture of Peace" during the GA,s plenary 
session November 12-13.  President of the General Assembly 
(PGA) Miguel D'Escoto's opening remarks focused on his usual 
theme of shared ethics and values, rather than on interfaith 
dialogue. "It is not only Wall Street that needs to be bailed 
out," he said, but also "humankind from its social 
insensitivity."  D'Escoto called on member states to seek the 
moral strength to address hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. 
He strayed far off topic by going into elaborate detail about 
the late November Financing for Development conference in 
Doha.  UN SYG Ban Ki Moon noted that anti-Semitism remained a 
"scourge" and "Islamophobia has emerged as a new term for an 
old and terrible form of prejudice."  He said that mutual 
understanding and respect were necessary for peace to endure, 
adding that interfaith initiatives increasingly addressed 
that need.  Ban urged the international community to pursue 
dialogue and new partnerships. 
 
Saudi King Attributes Violence to Intolerance; 
Israeli President Calls Arab Peace Initiative "Promising" 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶3. Saudi King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz al-Saud, repeatedly 
freferred to as "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" by the 
PGA and others, said that religions should not be used as 
"instruments to cause misery."  He added, "Terrorism and 
criminality were the enemies of every religion," and 
attributed their existence to "the absence of tolerance."  He 
said all humans were created equal and could either live 
together in peace or be consumed by hatred.  Shimon Peres, 
directly addressing King Abdullah, said, "I was listening to 
your message," adding "It is right...it is promising."  He 
continued, "we can shape our future" and "this seems more 
feasible in light of the Saudi proposal which evolved into an 
Arab peace initiative."  Peres agreed with the initiative, 
noting that "a military solution...will not achieve peace or 
provide security." 
 
Delegates Thank Saudi King; Call for Continued Dialogue 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶4. Delegates thanked King Abdullah for his leadership in 
inspiring the dialogue and expressed hope for continued 
interfaith initiatives.  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown 
called for unity to ensure every child has the right to 
education "free of extremism."  He said the creation of a 
Palestinian state was essential to achieving peace in the 
Middle East.  Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
called for pursuing broader interfaith dialogue and asserted, 
"We will never accept violence cloaked in religion."  Afghan 
President Hamid Karzai said conflict stems from "the pursuit 
of narrow political objectives," and not religion.  He also 
called for dialogue and education "to rectify past failings." 
 
Delegates Express Difference of Opinion 
on Freedom of Expression 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Many delegates, especially those from predominantly 
 
USUN NEW Y 00001126  002 OF 002 
 
 
Islamic countries, expressed concern over a rise in 
"Islamophobia" and held that freedom of expression could not 
provide the pretext for defamation of religion.  The 
Senegalese delegate said that freedom of expression does not 
accord the right to defame religions.  Organization of the 
Islamic Conference Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu 
said the media's linking of Islam with terror was the most 
"persistent" and "virulent" source of "Islamophobia." 
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, as well as the Cuban 
delegate, said that the world must reject and respond to such 
defamation.  The Belarusan delegate advocated 
"stricter self-discipline" of the media. 
 
¶6. In contrast, other delegates noted the importance of 
protecting freedom of expression, emphasizing the need to 
focus efforts on diffusing incitement of religious hatred. 
President Bush underscored that "People who are free to 
express their opinions can challenge the ideologies of hate." 
 Former French Prime Minister and Special Envoy of the 
President of France Alain Juppe, speaking on behalf of the 
EU, said, "Freedom of religion cannot be achieved without 
freedom of speech, even if it is sometimes used to express 
derision."  The Chilean delegate stressed that freedom of 
expression could not be sacrificed due to "isolated incidents 
in particular regions." 
 
UN SYG and Saudi FM Hold Press Conference; 
SYG Issues Declaration 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. Following the conclusion of the Interfaith Dialogue, UN 
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Saudi Foreign Minister Saud 
al-Faisal held a press conference.  SYG Ban said that the 
meeting "brought together people who might not otherwise have 
a chance to interact."  He also read out a declaration 
affirming member states' rejection of the use of religion to 
justify acts of terrorism, violence, and coercion.  Foreign 
Minister al-Faisal said that it was "incumbent on all 
participants to declare to the world that difference must not 
result in confrontation." 
 
GA Approves Resolution on Interreligious 
and Intercultural Dialogue 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. At the end of the meeting, the GA adopted by consensus its 
annual resolution, tabled by the Philippines and Pakistan, on 
"Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, 
Understanding and Cooperation for Peace."  This resolution 
does not relate specifically to this Interfaith Dialogue, but 
rather to the regular agenda item on "Culture of Peace" under 
which the dialogue was held.   United States Ambassador T. 
Vance McMahan provided an Explanation of Position (reftel). 
Ambassador McMahan affirmed that "free expression was the 
proper antidote for intolerance."  As a result, he continued, 
"the resolution before us must not in any way be read to 
restrict peaceful expression of opinion or belief." 
Wolff