Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO3086
2005-04-24 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
MULTI-HOUR MUBARAK INTERVIEW TO AIR STARTING APRIL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 241446Z Apr 05
UNCLAS CAIRO 003086
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EG
SUBJECT: MULTI-HOUR MUBARAK INTERVIEW TO AIR STARTING APRIL
24
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.
UNCLAS CAIRO 003086
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EG
SUBJECT: MULTI-HOUR MUBARAK INTERVIEW TO AIR STARTING APRIL
24
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) A multi-hour interview with President Mubarak will
be aired over three consecutive days on Egypt Channel One
starting on the evening of April 24. The regional Arabic
news channel Al-Arabiya has also bought the broadcast rights
and will be airing it at the same time. The interview was
conducted by the prominent journalist/media tycoon Imad
Adeeb, who is also rumored to act as an informal media
advisor to Mubarak. The interview was "directed" by Sherif
Arafa, one of the most famous directors in contemporary
Egyptian cinema.
2. (SBU) While the interview is apparently principally
focused on Mubarak's "historic recollections," including his
accounts of the wars of 1967 and 1973, there has already been
some speculation in the Egyptian media, and gossip in Cairo
salons, that the interview contains some sort of major
announcement. Speculation has centered on the following
possibilities:
-- that Mubarak will step down as head of the ruling NDP;
-- that Mubarak will announce his intention to seek a fifth
term of office this fall;
-- that he will announce that he does not intend to run;
-- that he will appoint a Vice President or announce a
running mate for his ticket; or
-- that there will be no suprises at all.
3. (SBU) Comment: We believe it unlikely that the President
would use a taped interview, as opposed to a live speech, as
a means to make a surprise announcement. However, we cannot
rule out this possibility. In any case, we do expect that,
in the course of a lengthy interview, which we understand
will run up to nine hours in total, that Mubarak will have
some interesting things to say, which we will report if
warranted. End comment.
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.
CORBIN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EG
SUBJECT: MULTI-HOUR MUBARAK INTERVIEW TO AIR STARTING APRIL
24
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. Not
for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) A multi-hour interview with President Mubarak will
be aired over three consecutive days on Egypt Channel One
starting on the evening of April 24. The regional Arabic
news channel Al-Arabiya has also bought the broadcast rights
and will be airing it at the same time. The interview was
conducted by the prominent journalist/media tycoon Imad
Adeeb, who is also rumored to act as an informal media
advisor to Mubarak. The interview was "directed" by Sherif
Arafa, one of the most famous directors in contemporary
Egyptian cinema.
2. (SBU) While the interview is apparently principally
focused on Mubarak's "historic recollections," including his
accounts of the wars of 1967 and 1973, there has already been
some speculation in the Egyptian media, and gossip in Cairo
salons, that the interview contains some sort of major
announcement. Speculation has centered on the following
possibilities:
-- that Mubarak will step down as head of the ruling NDP;
-- that Mubarak will announce his intention to seek a fifth
term of office this fall;
-- that he will announce that he does not intend to run;
-- that he will appoint a Vice President or announce a
running mate for his ticket; or
-- that there will be no suprises at all.
3. (SBU) Comment: We believe it unlikely that the President
would use a taped interview, as opposed to a live speech, as
a means to make a surprise announcement. However, we cannot
rule out this possibility. In any case, we do expect that,
in the course of a lengthy interview, which we understand
will run up to nine hours in total, that Mubarak will have
some interesting things to say, which we will report if
warranted. End comment.
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website.
CORBIN