VZCZCXRO8721
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #1052 3081326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041326Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4151
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001052 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/SRMC, NEA/ARP (JSAWYER), NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KISL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: SR PANDITH REACHES OUT TO NEXT GENERATION OF KUWAITI 
LEADERS 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Special Representative for Muslim Communities Farah 
Pandith's October 26-28 visit to Kuwait concentrated on outreach to 
students and young leaders active in civil society in a wide variety 
of ways.  Throughout her visit, SR Pandith emphasized her strong 
interest in helping Kuwait's young people network with like-minded 
individuals around the world.  During a meeting with the Under 
Secretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, SR Pandith 
heard about the efforts of the Ministry's Center for Moderation in 
combating Islamic extremism.  SR Pandith stressed the need for 
future cooperation and the exchange of information and the need to 
work jointly on promoting and encouraging moderation.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) During her first visit to the Middle East in her capacity as 
Special Representative for Muslim Communities, SR Pandith met in 
multiple meetings with dozens of university students and young 
people active in non-governmental organizations.  She described the 
Secretary's vision for engagement with Muslim communities in the 
21st century, as outlined by President Obama in his Cairo and Ankara 
speeches.  She emphasized her mission to serve as Secretary 
Clinton's advisor on Muslim engagement and to work with embassies at 
a grassroots level.  She said she will serve as the convener, 
facilitator and intellectual partner with civil society and will 
bring like-minded people together to promote and support ideas and 
initiatives for the common good, with a focus on the next 
generation.  She reiterated the same goals during a luncheon with 
Ambassador Deborah K. Jones; Dr. Badria Al-Awadhi, a prominent 
female human rights lawyer; Dr. Rawda Awwad, Assistant Dean at the 
American University of Kuwait; and Dr. Fahed Al-Ajmi, Executive 
Director of the American-Kuwaiti Alliance.  This approach to 
engagement was received positively. 
 
¶3. (U) In addition to describing the goals and activities of their 
respective organizations, a number of the young NGO leaders and 
bloggers shared with SR Pandith their frustrations with what they 
perceive as an increase in recent years of government censorship 
targeting everything from imported books and DVDs to domestic blogs, 
art and music.  Several young film makers noted their films could 
only be screened outside of Kuwait.  (Note:  Embassy Kuwait will 
report on the issue of censorship septel.  End note).  During one 
gathering with both liberal and conservative university students, SR 
Pandith offered her support to a student who expressed an interest 
in launching an anti-racism campaign at his university.  Post and 
SRMC will work together to be helpful toward this effort. 
 
¶4. (U) During SR Pandith's meeting at the Ministry of Awqaf's 
Moderation Center, Under Secretary Dr. Adel Al-Falah described the 
Center's efforts to study the sociological, psychological and 
political roots of sectarianism, tribalism and Islamic extremism, to 
prevent and combat such divisive and dangerous attitudes and 
behavior, and to promote tolerance and moderation.  Dr. Al-Falah 
stressed that the studies had revealed that extremism was not an 
indigenous phenomena in Kuwaiti society but rather an exterior 
influence that had affected a very small number of individuals.  The 
Center's focus had therefore shifted from trying to remedy the 
problem to protecting young people from the dangers of extremist 
thought.  Dr. Al-Falah also described the Center's work in other 
countries, especially in the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan and Russia, 
where it had established similar moderation centers.  Finally, he 
highlighted the success of a conference, held in 2006 in Washington, 
D.C. and organized by the Moderation Center in conjunction with the 
Embassy of Kuwait, to "promote moderation and reconfirm that Islam 
is a religion of peace and tolerance."  At the conclusion of the 
meeting, SR Pandith and Dr. Al-Falah agreed to exchange information 
on future projects and to work jointly on promoting and encouraging 
moderation. 
 
¶5. (U) At a press round-table with ten journalists, SR Pandith 
underscored the unprecedented dedication the American government is 
placing on engagement with Muslims and Muslim communities around the 
world.  She also spoke about the importance of the President's 
laying the foundation for "a new beginning," i.e. "mutual interest 
and mutual respect."  She conveyed Secretary Clinton's priority in 
turning that vision into a reality, in part by establishing -- for 
the first time -- an office tasked with reaching out to Muslim 
communities on a people to people level.  SR Pandith described her 
mission as engaging in dialogue, building networks, listening to the 
voices of young Muslims, developing ways to work together and 
serving as a connector for like-minded young people around the world 
to forge partnerships for the common good.  The following day, all 
ten newspapers represented reported on the meeting accurately.  The 
journalists' positive reaction and interest in this new approach was 
reflected in their reporting. 
 
¶6. (U) This cable was cleared by SR Pandith. 
 
JONES