PDAS CHENEY CHALLENGES ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004059

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL KDEM IS EG
SUBJECT: PDAS CHENEY CHALLENGES ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY
GENERAL'S INSISTENCE ON "PALESTINE FIRST"

Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a May 24 meeting with Arab League
Secretary General Amre Moussa, NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney

SIPDIS
pressed the Arab League to demonstrate its commitment to real
political reform among its member states, and to support Gaza
disengagement. Moussa insisted that the Arab League is
committed to pushing political reform--including in
cooperation with the USG--but also reiterated his familiar
position that political reform in the region will not be
possible without a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.
Cheney assured Moussa of the USG's commitment to resolving
the conflict, and pressed him to encourage the Arab League to
avoid using the Israel-Palestine conflict as an excuse to
avoid reform. End summary.


2. (C) In response to an invitation from Moussa, PDAS
Cheney, accompanied by the Charge and poloff (notetaker),met
with Moussa on the evening of May 24. (Moussa's chief of
staff Hisham Youssef, and his press spokesman, Hossam Zaki,
also joined the meeting.) Moussa opened with his familiar
refrain that the road to reform in the Arab world lies
through Palestine. Returning to a theme he had publicly
stated at the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan,
Moussa insisted that there could be "no Arab Spring without a
solution to the Palestinian issue." According to Moussa,
"any reasonable peace will do." He noted that in a recent
interview with the Jerusalem Post he had clearly stated the
Arab League's commitment to its 2002 Beirut Declaration,
which committed the Arab League to "turning the page and
considering the conflict ended."


3. (C) In response, PDAS Cheney noted that there had been
much talk about the peace process for many years, including
by Arab governments who have sometimes used the issue to
deflect attention from the need for reform in their own
countries. At the same time, these governments have often
not lived up to their commitments to provide financial
support for the Palestinian people, for example. She
suggested Moussa should do more than talk about the
importance of peace. Specifically, she urged Moussa to
support actions currently underway -- most importantly, Gaza
disengagement, necessary for progress on the Roadmap. Moussa
argued that the USG must play an "honest broker" role
regarding the "litmus test" of Israeli settlements. Moussa
said that Arab League members are troubled that Israel may
move Gaza settlers to other settlements in the West Bank.
PDAS Cheney responded that the Secretary General, given his
unique position in the region, also had a responsibility to
be "an honest broker." She suggested that Arab League
support for Gaza disengagement would be an important "litmus
test" in this regard.


4. (C) Moussa asserted that Arab League members have "two
number-one priorities: reform and progress on the
Palestinian question." As evidence of the Arab League's
commitment to reform, Moussa described several new programs
including a pan-Arab parliament and a move to provide special
consultative status for Arab NGOs that wish to affiliate with
the Arab League. He also mentioned an initiative to support
the provision of identity cards and voter registration for
women in six Arab countries. Moussa said he would coordinate
and cooperate with the USG on these and other reform
projects. PDAS Cheney welcomed his agreement, saying,
"Together, we have the potential to be a very powerful team."
(Note: In reply to PDAS Cheney's question, Moussa said an
Arab League staffer was assigned to work on reform issues.
We will follow up to identify the staffer and explore
opportunities for cooperation on reform projects. End note.)


5. (C) PDAS Cheney closed by saying she was heartened to
learn that the Secretary General shared the USG goals of
expanding freedom and working for peace. Moussa offered his
unreserved support for the former, and said that he also
supported the latter, but that his "terms of reference
originate from the Beirut Declaration." PDAS Cheney said
that she looked forward to future meetings with the Secretary
General. Moussa also welcomed the prospect of future
meetings, and noted that they would continue to include "an
honest difference of views." PDAS Cheney responded that she
expected nothing less.


6. (U) PDAS Cheney has cleared this cable.


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