UN REFORM: EGYPT NOT YET FOCUSED ON HIGH-LEVEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006286 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KUNR EG UNGA UNSC UN SUBJECT: UN REFORM: EGYPT NOT YET FOCUSED ON HIGH-LEVEL EVENT REF: A. STATE 149376 (NOTAL) ¶B. USUN 1717 (NOTAL) ¶C. AUG 2 CORBIN-MCVERRY E-MAIL Classified by Charge Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Charge delivered ref A demarche on August 15 to MFA Acting Chief of the Minister's Cabinet, Yasser Morad. Morad accepted the points with limited substantive reply, but promised to study the U.S. message. He indicated that the GOE had not yet focused on the High Level Event (HLE). On the subject of a new Human Rights Council to replace the UN's current Commission, Morad expressed skepticism that a United Nations body's membership could be selected without a rotation in the UN system. But, he promised that Egypt would keep an open mind to proposals. ¶2. (C) Morad pushed back on USG insistence over Security Council oversight of the Peace-building Commission, noting that Egypt and the U.S. had different views. He was somewhat mollified by assurances that the USG was willing to negotiate appropriate and clearly defined roles for ECOSOC and General Assembly interface with the Commission, so long as the Security Council maintained oversight, per ref A demarche. ¶3. (C) Morad stated that the GOE had not yet reached a final position on the definition of terrorism. He hinted that there was movement in the direction the USG wished, but that the final outcome would not fully satisfy USG requirements. (Note: During an August 14 conversation with Presidential Advisor Soliman Awad, the Charge was told that Egypt - in the context of a planned Arab summit - was pushing with its Arab neighbors a simplified definition of terror with no reference to freedom fighters; this topic is expected to be on the agenda at the next Arab summit, postponed until after September. It is possible that President Mubarak will sweep away any nuanced position concocted in the MFA, in favor of the simple and sweeping version favored by the USG. End note.) 4 (C) Comment. With Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit and his Chief of Cabinet Sameh Shukry both on vacation, and the Presidency focused on the September 7 Presidential election, the GOE has yet to focus on the UN High Level Event. Also, it remains unclear whether our August 2 (ref C) demarche to MFA working-level contacts to complain about GOE diplomatic behavior in New York (ref B) has affected GOE tactics. British and Japanese colleagues were also scheduled to deliver similar demarches this week. (Note: It was not possible to coordinate joint delivery with the Japanese due to Japanese Ambassador's schedule. End Note.) End comment. 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. JONES