Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO4428
2005-06-13 09:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE

Tags:  PREL PGOV MASS EAID EU EG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004428 

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ELA AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID EU EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE
REFERENCE IN US-EU SUMMIT STATEMENT

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

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004428

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ELA AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS EAID EU EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE
REFERENCE IN US-EU SUMMIT STATEMENT

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

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) A senior MFA official convoked the Charge on June 12,
at the Foreign Minister's direction, to express concern over
how Egypt understood it was being characterized in a draft of
a final statement for the June 20 U.S.-European Union summit
in Washington. Assistant Minister Shadia Farag told the
Charge that it was "unacceptable" for Egypt to be included in
the same list as Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Palestine -
places the GOE believes are undergoing "exceptional
circumstances" not comparable to the situation in Egypt. The
GOE would interpret the inclusion of an explicit reference to
Egypt in the summit statement as damaging and
"counterproductive." The Charge underscored the USG's policy
toward political reform and election monitors for Egypt, but
agreed to convey the GOE's concerns to Washington. The Dutch
Ambassador, representing the EU Presidency, received a
similar demarche and shared with us the content of a GOE oral
message (text at paragraph five). Farag also inquired
whether the Administration had sent a letter to Congressman
Lantos and other Members of Congress opposing the former's
efforts to restructure foreign military and economic
assistance budgets for Egypt. End summary.

--------------
GOE Expresses its Concern to the U.S.
--------------


2. (C) MFA Assistant Minister for Americas Affairs,
Ambassador Shadia Farag, convoked the Charge June 12 to raise
GOE concerns over draft language for the U.S.-European Union
June 20 summit in Washington. Farag said that the Egyptian
Embassy in Washington reported its understanding that the
draft document contained "negative references to Egypt's
political reform process." The draft statement, she
understood, had been drafted in such a way as to link
developments in Egypt with events in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Lebanon, and Palestine - all of which, she said, were
undergoing "exceptional circumstances." Inclusion of Egypt

in this list, she added, would be "unacceptable and
counterproductive" and would be considered by the GOE as
"interference in Egypt's internal affairs."


3. (C) While noting he had not seen the draft document in
question, the Charge said that he would convey the GOE
message to Washington. He emphasized that President Bush
clearly expressed USG policy toward Egypt's upcoming
elections on May 7 in Latvia, when he called for fair and
transparent elections with international monitoring. The
Charge questioned why the GOE would object to the mention of
Egypt's recent constitutional reform and other positive steps
to permit increased political expression and pluralism. In
fact, it would seem odd not to mention efforts made by
President Mubarak in this area in such a public statement.
Furthermore, the Charge questioned why Egypt would be
reluctant to allow foreign observers since it had recently
participated in election monitoring efforts in Zimbabwe and
Palestine, and since the ruling National Democratic Party has
routinely invited foreign observers to its annual meetings.
The GOE, he concluded, should be creative and find ways to
invite international election monitors. Recent public
remarks on the topic made by the Egyptian Foreign Minister,
the Charge observed, had not closed the window on this
option. Assistant Minister Farag responded that the GOE
believed from recent senior-level bilateral discussions that
the USG viewed Egypt's recent reform steps efforts
positively. Therefore, the GOE believed that identifying
Egypt as part of the aforementioned list would be
counterproductive.

--------------
...and to the EU
--------------


4. (C) The Dutch Ambassador, in the absence of a Luxembourg
mission (current EU President),told the Charge June 13 that
he had received a very similar demarche from the MFA
Assistant Minister for European Affairs on June 12. In a
separate conversation on June 13, the UK Ambassador (who,
along with the EU Ambassador, accompanied the Dutch
Ambassador to the meeting at the MFA) provided the Charge
with the same information on the demarche. The Dutch
Ambassador (please protect) shared the text of a written
"oral message" that he received from the MFA (text below).
Note: Assistant Minister Farag did not provide the text of
an oral message to the Charge, although she made it clear she
was bringing this issue at the Foreign Minister's direction.
End note.
--------------
Text of Oral Message to EU
--------------

5. (SBU) Begin text of oral message:

- In following US-EU consultations on the draft EU-US Summit
Declaration, we have observed that there is reference to
reform and democracy in Egypt, drafted in a way that is
tantamount to interference in Egypt's internal affairs. We
therefore regard any specific reference to Egypt as having
negative effect, at a time when political developments in
Egypt are witnessing noticeable progress worthy of
encouragement and support.

- In this context, I should like to stress that it serves no
one's interest - given the evolving momentum within the
Egyptian society towards further steps to advance the
political process - to see such reference, particulary that
the suggested text places Egypt on the same footing with
states that are going through exceptional circumstances
(Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon),nor is it logical to
establish such linkages with Egypt. Furthermore, we do not
see any justification for questioning the steps being
undertaken by Egypt.

- Consequently, I trust that you appreciate and understand
the necessity of avoiding any semblance of outside
interference in matters directly related to internal affairs.

I do hope that you will strive, with other Euro-Atlantic
Partners, to avoid any repercussions on the spirit and
substance of our mutual cooperation, or any negative impact
on Egyptian public opinion that will compromise the goals we
aspire for.

End text of oral message.

--------------
Lantos Amendment
--------------


6. (C) Assistant Minister Farag also inquired whether the
Administration had sent a letter to Congressman Lantos and
other Members of Congress opposing a Lantos-sponsored
amendment that seeks to restructure USG military and economic
assistance to Egypt. Farag stated that she was under the
impression that the Secretary would send such a letter to
Capitol Hill. The Charge replied that the USG had made its
position on the amendment clear to Prime Minister Nazif when
he visited Washington last month, and he understood that the
USG would find an appropriate mechanism to convey its
position to Members of Congress.





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GRAY