EGYPT: UN PRIORITIES UNDERSTOOD, BUT MECHANISMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004780 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM KUNR AORC EAID EG UNSC UNGA SUBJECT: EGYPT: UN PRIORITIES UNDERSTOOD, BUT MECHANISMS UNCERTAIN REF: A. STATE 114906 ¶B. STATE 114051 ¶C. STATE 113168 ¶D. STATE 111657 ¶E. STATE 111637 ¶F. CAIRO 4518 Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Acting DCM conveyed ref D points on USG priorities for UN reform at the MFA Assistant Minister level, in the absence of the Foreign Minister, on June 23. Assistant Minister Fathalla and his staff were familiar with many of the points raised, yet pressed to know what mechanisms the USG envisioned for negotiating a final outcome document for the UN High Level Event (HLE) in September. Fathalla was also interested in USG views regarding the timing of decisions on UNSC reform. PolOff had earlier gone over the points from refs A, B, and E with the MFA Director of UN Affairs (septel). Ref C points have also been shared with key contacts and posted on the Embassy's web page. End summary. ¶2. (C) In the absence of the Foreign Minister (attending the Iraq conference in Brussels),the Acting DCM conveyed ref D points to Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Ahmed Fathalla on June 23, emphasizing strong U.S. interest in enhancing the UN's ability to focus on key objectives. Fathalla, joined by the heads of the MFA offices dealing with the UN, human rights, nonproliferation, and economic development, was familiar with the essence of many of the U.S. points. He had reviewed public statements by Ambassador Patterson and Under Secretary Burns detailing U.S. goals. Fathalla also said the GOE had received on June 3 the first draft of the UNGA President's "outcome document" for the September HLE and cited those "18 pages" as the likely focus of discussions leading up to the HLE. He inquired about USG views on the mechanism for coordinating that document further. ¶3. (C) The Acting DCM reviewed ref D points in detail, stressing the importance of keeping the focus on outcomes that would enhance the UN's ability to deal with real issues facing the international community. He told Fathalla that Embassy staff would remain in contact with the MFA on the full range of UN priorities stated in reftels. Fathalla said the GOE shared the USG priorities noted in the demarche; "these are also our priorities," and "the priorities of the international community." ¶4. (C) The issue before us was "how to deal with these priorities," according to Fathalla. On terrorism, for example, he cited a decade of effort to combat a mutually recognized problem. "We know your perspectives and you know ours," he stressed, and an HLE that did not "give clear guidance to the UNGA" would simply extend an inconclusive conversation we have been having for some time. The problem of definitions of terror, including state terror, were an issue that Fathalla said must be addressed. (UN affairs chief Hany Salem had emphasized the same point at length with PolOff.) On terrorism, said Fathalla, "we understand each other" and what is needed is to better coordinate an approach to deal with the issue. An HLE outcome that did not offer guidance for "tackling issues" would have limited impact, he asserted. ¶5. (C) Similarly, on the concept of a Human Rights Council, Fathalla said "you have your ideas and so do we." He was less interested in debating the various positions, which are mutually known, and more focused on "how we want to deal with" the process of moving ahead. He said that proceeding to more formal discussions on a final outcome document without such "clarity" would simply extend the dialogue without leading to a solution. He said the UNGA president had already put the ball in play; we must now determine whether we sought a brief declaration of principles or a "more complete" document. He sought a better sense of the nature of the document we had in mind, and noted the importance of considering the possibility of arriving at consensus, before hastening into a drafting exercise. ¶6. (C) Fathalla said Egypt was interested in working bilaterally with the U.S. to discuss means to move forward on UN reform issues. He hoped such cooperation could be initiated soon. ¶7. (C) Finally, expressing a clear priority for Egypt, Fathalla asked if the U.S. wanted to delay all discussion of expanding UNSC membership until September. For most UN members, UNSC membership was "a hot issue now," he stated, and would have to be addressed if reform were to be "whole" in its scope. ¶8. (U) Post will report other meetings on UN reform septel. 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