VISIT OF NEA ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006414

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV EG
SUBJECT: VISIT OF NEA ASSISTANT SECRETARY WELCH: DEFENSE
MINISTER CONFIRMS PLANS TO VISIT U.S.

Classified by Charge Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) During an August 18 telephone conversation with
visiting NEA Assistant Secretary Welch, Egyptian Minister of
Defense Tantawi confirmed that he planned to accept an
invitation from the U.S. Secretary of Defense to visit
Washington. Tantawi said that he intended to travel after
the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Welch mentioned that he
had recently been in contact with Congressional leaders on
the subject of Egypt, and counseled Tantawi to be
particularly attentive to Congressional concerns over, and
interest in, political developments in Egypt.


2. (C) On the subject of Egypt's coming Presidential
elections, Welch said that he was in Cairo to discuss a
variety of topics with Egyptian officials, including the
progress on Egypt's evolving experiment with democracy. He
was not in Egypt, Welch joked, to interfere in Egypt's
political process. (Note: It is useful for Tantawi - one of
Egypt's stalwart old guards - to continue hearing that
Washington does not intend to meddle in the details of
Egypt's electoral process, but will be watching closely and
insisting on fairness, openness, and transparency.)


3. (U) This message was cleared by A/S Welch.

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JONES