IRAQ: HALTING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS AND

S E C R E T CAIRO 006420 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PTER EG IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: HALTING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS AND TERRORISTS; EGYPTIAN RESPONSE REF: STATE 136754 (NOTAL) Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) The Charge delivered reftel demarche July 24 to Presidential Spokesman Soliman Awad, stressing the importance of assisting Iraq with its battle to confront the insurgency movement. Addressing the need to prevent Egyptian nationals from travelling to Iraq for the purpose of conducting jihad, the Charge requested Egypt to be particularly attentive to the foreign travel of its citizens, particularly young men travelling to Syria and Lebanon. Awad welcomed the U.S. message, promising to convey our points to the appropriate offices within the GOE. Awad also replied that Egypt would continue its active engagement with the USG on stemming support for the insurgency in Iraq, as the conflict there had direct security implications for Egypt. (Note: The Egyptian General Intelligence Service continues to work closely with its USG counterparts in other channels on this topic. That cooperation includes, but is not limited to, measures discussed by reftel talking points such as information sharing, travel restrictions, consular improvements, and public diplomacy. End note.) ¶2. (C) Poloff also raised reftel demarche points with MFA Cabinet staff member Alaa Hadidi July 25, leaving the talking points in the form of an aide-memoire. Hadidi promised to share the message within the MFA, and to reply with any substantive response. To date, we have not received a formal reply to the demarche from the MFA. 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