US embassy cable - 02AMMAN6189

UNCLAS AMMAN 006189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/PDD; IIP, R. PA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PREL OIIP JO 
SUBJECT: RAMADAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGY 2002 
 
Ref: secstate 201932 
 
1.   Following is an outline of the PD Ramadan 
activities which emphasize respect for Islam and shared 
values during the month of Ramadan.  In Jordan, Ramadan 
is a festive time similar to the Christmas season. 
After the Iftar, most Jordanians spend their time on 
visits to family and friends, cultural entertainment or 
congregating in cafes and watching the many Ramadan TV 
serials available on local and satellite TV.  Embassy 
officers from all sections, starting with the 
Ambassador and DCM, attend and host a wide variety of 
iftars involving a wide spectrum of the community. 
Following are the main Ramadan Public Affairs 
activities which we plan during this period. 
 
2.   Press and News Media Activities 
 
We plan to invite 50 journalists to an iftar hosted by 
Ambassador Gnehm.  In addition, we will equip all of 
the Embassy officers who will be attending iftars and 
other Ramadan gatherings with "speaker kits," featuring 
talking points and background information on hot issues 
such as Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as 
well as student visas.  We will also draw the attention 
of JTV and other news media to Secretary Powell's Nov. 
6 iftar as well as any other high-level Ramadan events 
in the U.S.  Our web page will feature materials on the 
above events plus other information about Muslim life 
in the U.S., the "dialogue of civilizations" and 
related topics. 
 
3.   Cultural Activities 
 
In addition to an Ambassadorial iftar for 50 academics, 
artists, and intellectuals, particularly young people, 
we will propose an iftar which either the Ambassador or 
PAO could host for the legal community.  The latter 
group cooperates with us closely in our judicial reform 
projects and includes many religiously conservative 
young professionals.  The CAO plans a Ramadan evening 
with poetry readings and oud music.  We would also like 
to do an Arabic-language DVC on the topic of Ramadan in 
the U.S.,  perhaps about "Ramadan before and after 
Sept. 11."  Finally, we would invite members of the IV 
delegation from various Sharia' Law faculties to a 
Ramadan evening or Iftar in which they would discuss 
their recent trip to the U.S. 
 
4.   Other activities. 
 
About a week after the Eid following Ramadan, Promo-7, 
the local affiliate of Webber-Shandwick, plans to 
sponsor in close coordination with post a speaker tour 
featuring a Muslim-American group who will discuss 
Muslim life in America and shared values between Islam 
and the U.S.  The speakers will include a 28-year old 
female author, the public affairs director of the 
Supreme Islamic Council of America, a paramedic and an 
entrepreneurial couple who appeared in the TV Public 
Service Announcements about Muslim Life in the U.S. 
This group will meet with young business people, 
artists and intellectuals and will be interviewed on 
Jordan satellite TV in advance of the PSA's which we 
understand may be aired on local and/or satellite TV. 
Post is assisting Promo 7 in its effort to obtain 
permission to air the PSA's on JTV during Ramadan. 
Gnehm