DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 005542

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM OVIP EG
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH
EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AFFAIRS KAMAL SHAZLY


Classified by: Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) July 13, 2005; 4:30 p.m.; Cairo, Egypt


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
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The Deputy Secretary
Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin
NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney
Deputy Spokesman J. Adam Ereli
D Executive Assistant Ross Wilson
Embassy notetaker

Egypt
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Kamal Shazly, Minister for People's Assembly Affairs and
Assistant Secretary General of the (ruling) National
Democratic Party.

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Summary
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3. (C) In a 50 minute meeting, Kamal Shazly, Egypt's Minister
for People's Assembly Affairs and leader of the "old guard"
of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP),told Deputy
Secretary Zoellick that President Mubarak's initiative to

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institute competitive presidential elections was only the
first step in the process of reform. Asked for his vision of
Egypt's future, Shazly stressed that stability was the
country's number one priority. Egypt has suffered much from
terrorism, Shazly recalled, and he asserted that the country
has long been an international leader in fighting it.
Democracy, economic growth, and investment promotion were
also important, he added. Sizing up the opposition, Shazly
noted that the Muslim Brotherhood hoped to expand its
representation in parliament this fall, but opined that
public opinion stood against them. End summary.

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A "Constitutional Revolution"
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4. (C) Asked for his views on Egypt's electoral outlook,
Shazly said that the country will have its first ever
competitive presidential election this fall, which he
credited to the wisdom of President Mubarak. Shazly recalled
that the President had advised him of his intent to call for
amending the constitution to allow for competitive
presidential elections a full year before the 2004
announcement. Shazly was proud that the President had chosen
the Nile Delta governorate of Manoufiya, home to both Mubarak
and Shazly, to make this historic announcement. The
President's initiative to amend Article 76 of the
constitution was only the first in a series of changes that
would be coming, Shazly asserted, describing the process as
one of constitutional revolution.

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Stability a Priority
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5. (C) Asked about his vision for Egypt's future in the
coming years, Shazly immediately replied with one word:
stability. "We have suffered greatly from terrorism," Shazly
stated, recalling that his own nephew, a junior police
officer, had been killed by terrorists in the 1990s. He
expressed regret at the murder of Ambassador Ihab Sherif,
Egypt's envoy to Baghdad. Many point fingers at Al-Qa'ida,
Shazly stated, but Iraqi Parliament Speaker Hassani had told
Shazly the previous day in Algiers that Iran could have had a
hand in his murder. Shazly expressed scorn at the U.K.'s
perceived liberal attitude toward offering political asylum
to Arab radicals, including Islamists, and suggested that the
July 7 London bombings were an indication that the British
Government was reaping what it had sowed. What will Blair do
now, he asked rhetorically.

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...And Democracy, Too
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6. (C) Recalling other priorities, Shazly cited the
importance of freedom, democracy, and investment.

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A Word on the Opposition
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7. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked Shazly for his assessment
of Egypt's political opposition and who would likely prove to
be strong competitors in this fall's elections. In reply,
Shazly noted that the opposition Wafd party has five seats in
the People's Assembly (PA),the Tagammu' has six, the
liberals have one seat, the Nasserists have one, and the Ghad
Party has three. (Note: The Embassy counts four Wafd seats
in the PA and seven for the Ghad. End note.) In addition,
Shazly noted, the Muslim Brothers (MB) have 15 seats in the
PA, although their members sit as independents. Shazly said
that the elections will be a competition but not a battle.
The MB were trying hard to expand their representation in
parliament, Shazly observed. However, he asserted, public
opinion does not favor them. While stressing that he would
stop short of accusing the MB of engaging in terrorism, if
you look at their activities in other countries, and study
their background, it is not encouraging. It was ironic that
the Saudi government, a former sponsor of Egypt's MB, was now
suffering from violent Islamic radicalism in its own country.


8. (U) This message has been cleared by D.


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CORBIN