EGYPT SHARES USG GOALS ON LA/SW MARKING AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004119 SIPDIS FOR PM/WRA/STEPHANIE PICO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015 TAGS: PARM PREL EG SUBJECT: EGYPT SHARES USG GOALS ON LA/SW MARKING AND TRACING NEGOTIATIONS REF: STATE 99866 Classified by Economic-Political Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Drawing from reftel points in a June 1 meeting with Adel Ibrahim, Director of the MFA Office of Arms Control and Disarmament, Poloff reiterated USG redlines regarding the marking and tracing of ammunition and our inability to agree to a legally binding document at the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG). Ibrahim said he was very familiar with U.S. positions on SA/LW negotiations, which he said matched Egypt's goals. He said the GOE had pointed out the "legally binding language" in a draft document as unacceptable when Ambassador Thalmann visited Cairo. The GOE had included the Ministries of Defense and Interior in meetings with Thalmann to reinforce the fact that Egypt's positions were well coordinated and would not change. ¶2. (C) Ibrahim said the GOE would be firm in negotiating at the OEWG meetings at the UN later this month. He hoped the U.S. would also make a "high profile" effort to ensure that our mutual goals were met; he asked specifically that the USG join in the negotiations aggressively and not "leave Egypt isolated." He also commented that a number of other countries shared similar views, pointing to "producer" nations in particular. As for the end game, Ibrahim said he thought a consensus could be reached if U.S. positions were clearly articulated and forcefully argued. 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. GRAY