CODEL KING'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006010

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FO, ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER EG
SUBJECT: CODEL KING'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN INTERIOR
MINISTER EL ADLY AUGUST 4


Classified By: CDA Stuart Jones Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)

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Summary
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1. (C) In their August 4 meeting with Interior Minister El
Adly, CODEL King discussed the desire for deeper cooperation
with Egypt on counterterrorism, Egypt's upcoming elections
and associated political demonstrations, the Israeli
withdrawal from Gaza, Egypt's proposed anti-terrorism
legislation, and the basing of terrorist training camps in
countries neighboring Egypt. Charge stressed the need for
Egyptian police to exercise restraint in policing political
demonstrations, and noted U.S. and international concern over
the images of police violently suppressing such protests.
End Summary.

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U.S. - Egypt Partnership
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2. (C) The delegation expressed its condolences on behalf of
the American people for those killed in attacks on Sharm El
Sheikh, thanked the Egyptians for their support for the war
on terror and their position as a strong ally of the U.S.,
and called for deeper cooperation with the U.S. in
counterterrorism. El Adly praised the strategic and powerful
relationship between the U.S. and Egypt, and expressed his
pleasure with the close coordination the MoI enjoys with its
counterpart agencies in the U.S. and with Embassy Cairo.

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Demonstrations/Democratic Opposition
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3. (C) With regard to the July 30 protests in Tahrir Square,
whose aggressive suppression by police was broadcast
world-wide on satellite television, Charge asserted that the
broadcasts of Egyptian police violently quelling a protest
were highly negative for Egypt. El Adly said that the
protesters were holding an illegal protest in a key sector of
the city. The protestors had a clear plan to incite the
police, he believed, and were warned repeatedly by police not
to block a certain major thoroughfare. He asserted that the
protesters started to attack police with stones, and the
police then took action to clear the street and protect
injured officers "which is an international practice." (He
said 16 officers were injured during the melee.) He added
that riots are not acceptable, even in the U.S. El Adly said
the press had not shown what led to the confrontation and
that the police are trained in restraint. The Charge
affirmed that the U.S. and other nations were very concerned
about the images, and strongly urged the GOE not to allow
provocations to lead to excessive measures by the police.


4. (C) Regarding the emergence of multi-party elections and
new democratic movements, El Adly attempted to differentiate
between what he called "legal opposition" and movements, such
as Kefaya, which he called "a cocktail of different parties."
He said the movements aren't necessarily "real" and very
small in membership.

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Sharm Bombings
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5. (C) El Adly noted that although the investigation is
ongoing, they have not yet found any direct links between the
attacks and external terrorist organizations such as Al
Qaeda. He said it instead appears that the perpetrators were
part of a home-grown movement and linked to the Taba
bombings. While not part of any outside organization, El
Adly did say the bombers were part of an international
"religious current" that is afflicting the entire world.
While Egypt has faced terrorism for a long time, and won, he
said the use of car bombs as in Taba and Sharm was a new and
dangerous phenomenon.

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Gaza Pull-out
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6. (C) El Adly said the MoI's focus with regard to the
Israeli withdrawl from Gaza was the training of Palestinian
police at the Egyptian academy and preparing the Palestinians
to exert control over their own territory. He also noted
that Egyptian and Israeli police officials have formed a
committee to discuss this process.

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New Anti-Terror Law
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7. (C) El Adly, in his response to a query about the new
anti-terrorism legislation, focused more on eulogizing the
old emergency law than looking toward its replacement. He
said that the emergency law has been very effective in
allowing police to prevent terrorism, respond quickly to
incidents, and conduct investigations. "But some people," he
said, "say this law is anti-freedom, restricts liberties and
allows for indefinite detentions." He said that the MoI's
powers under this law are restricted -- there are no
open-ended periods of detention, but "precise" ones -- and
are under the supervision of the courts. He added that he is
the only individual who can order detentions.


8. (C) In executing the President's wish for a new
anti-terror law, El Adly said that the Cabinet has reviewed
other nations' laws such as the U.S., UK and Italy, and would
work to produce a law that would allow Egypt to confront
"extraordinary" crimes such as terrorism.

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Sudan/Terrorism
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9. (C) Representative McCaul raised the issue of Egypt's
shared borders with Libya and Sudan and the basing of
terrorist training camps in these countries. El Adly said
that Egypt had suffered greatly because of Sudan's past
hosting of Al Qaeda and terrorist training camps, and
presented the assassination attempt on President Mubarak in
Ethiopia as evidence. Under Bashir's leadership, however, El
Adly believes Sudanese officials have shown a willingness to
cooperate with Egypt on counterterrorism and to rid Sudan of
these camps (although he could not say whether or not any
still remained).


10. (U) CODEL did not have the opportunity to clear this
cable.


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