VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDO #0043/01 0331031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY TEXT ADX: 1A4670 MSI8186 TMC)
P 021031Z FEB 10 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9663
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS DOHA 000043 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY (CAPTION REMOVED) 
 
FROM AMBASSADOR TO ATTENDEES OF U.S.-ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL OVIP OREP OTRA QA
SUBJECT: U.S.-ISLAMIC FORUM: SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS TO 
ADVANCE THE PRESIDENT'S CAIRO SPEECH 
 
 ¶1. (U) As you prepare for the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in 
Doha, please find below some suggested talking points from 
Embassy Doha for you to use while here.  They are designed to 
help promote the President's Muslim engagement agenda as 
outlined in his June 2009 address in Cairo.  But first, our 
thoughts about your media engagement: 
 
---------------- 
MEDIA ENGAGEMENT 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (U) With more than 35 million daily viewers, the Al 
Jazeera Arabic news channel is the most pervasive information 
source in the Arab world.  Al Jazeera's English channel 
claims a large viewership in Africa.  Both channels will be 
eager to receive USG officials; the Mission strongly 
recommends, and would be pleased to arrange, interviews. 
While anchors ask tough questions, Al Jazeera typically 
provides U.S. officials with the opportunity to make their 
points to these important audiences. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
ACCOMPLISHING SHARED INTERAGENCY GOALS: 
SOME SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Since the President's Cairo speech, Embassy Doha has 
tried to synchronize its interagency resources and activities 
in order to advance the President's Muslim engagement agenda. 
 The Embassy is targeting the following areas for interagency 
focus: entrepreneurship, food security, and science and 
technology (S&T) cooperation. 
 
¶4. (U) Fortunately, these priority areas mesh well with 
Qatar's own development objectives as laid out in Qatar's 
"National Vision 2030."  Focusing our work in areas in which 
the President's Cairo agenda and Qatar's National Vision 
intersect has proven to be a powerful "force multiplier" for 
the Embassy. 
 
---------------- 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (U) In Cairo, the President promised to host an 
Entrepreneurship Summit to identify how we can deepen ties 
between business leaders, foundations and social 
entrepreneurs.  Embassy Doha will send two successful Qatari 
businesswomen to the summit. 
 
¶6. (U) Regionally, Qatar's First Lady has established 
"Silatech," a youth employment initiative focused on the 
Middle East and North Africa.  Its goal is to connect youth 
with employment opportunities through market-driven training, 
job creation, access to capital, and policy reform. 
 
How your visit can help: 
 
--  Meet with the women who will attend the Entrepreneurship 
Summit to help them make their participation and follow-on 
activities as fruitful as possible. 
 
--  Explore ways in which a partnership with Silatech may be 
able to widen and deepen the Summit's outcomes in the region. 
 
------------ 
FOOD SECURITY 
------------- 
 
¶7. (U) As you know, President Obama is launching a Global 
Food Security Initiative.  Fortuitously, Qatar is developing 
its own plan to achieve food security for Qatar, to include 
developing new solar technologies to desalinate large 
quantities of water for use in irrigation.  These 
technologies, once proven in Qatar's harsh climate, would 
then be shared, through multilateral institutions, with other 
sun-rich, water-poor countries in the region. 
 
How your visit can help: 
 
-- Use the following talking points during your engagement as 
appropriate: 
 
-- I have heard that Qatar is pursuing the complex issue of 
food security with great energy and creativity. 
 
-- I know the USG appreciates your focus on this vital 
subject of great common concern. 
 
---------------------- 
Science and Technology 
---------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) The President called for a renewed focus on S&T 
cooperation.  With substantial financial resources, six U.S. 
university campuses, and an S&T business park that includes 
several U.S. companies, Qatar presents an excellent 
opportunity to promote S&T cooperation and public-private 
partnerships with the Arab world. 
 
Important: Qatar wishes to partner with the USG and others on 
projects and initiatives that help Qataris develop their own 
skills and capacity.  Tin cup solicitations routinely fail 
here.  Qataris will politely hear us out, but only very 
rarely take action. 
 
How your visit can help: 
 
--  Discuss ways the USG can encourage and support the 
participation of more U.S. companies in joint projects, 
particularly in renewable energy, at the Qatar's science and 
technology business park; 
 
--  Explore partnerships between Qatar Foundation's Sidra 
Hospital, a facility with a USD 8 billion endowment focused 
on women's and children's health, and U.S. institutions; 
 
--  Consider how National Science Foundation (NSF) 
regulations could be modified to allow American academics 
working at American institutions in Doha to apply for grant 
funding. 
 
---------------- 
Point of Contact 
---------------- 
 
¶9. (U) USG visitors should contact Mission Doha's point of 
contact, Public Affairs Officer Joey Hood, at their earliest 
convenience. Please include each visitor's objectives for 
their visit (we are happy to work with you to develop 
individualized engagement opportunities as resources permit) 
and indicate their availability for media opportunities. 
Email: HoodJR2@state.gov; Phone:   974-553-4171. 
Nantongo