EGYPTIAN GENERAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE DIRECTOR

S E C R E T CAIRO 006487

SIPDIS

S/WCI FOR AMB PROSPER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN GENERAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE DIRECTOR
SOLIMAN EXPRESSES RESERVATIONS ABOUT RETURN OF GUANTANAMO
BAY DETAINEES

REF: A. CAIRO 5924


B. STATE 147191

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


1. (S) Summary: At an August 20 meeting at the Egyptian
General Intelligence Service (EGIS)(other topics reported
SEPTEL),EGIS Director Soliman assured Congressman Hoekstra,
Congresswoman Wilson, Congressman Shadegg, and Charge Jones
that Guantanamo detainees would be treated humanely and that
if they were detained, American Embassy officials would have
access to them, as has been done in the past. End summary.


2. (S) Soliman said that the return of the detainees poses
a security risk for Egyptian society that EGIS takes
seriously. He explained that even if an Egyptian court finds
a suspect innocent of terrorism, if EGIS knows he is Jihadi,
they will follow his every move and, if needed, detain him.
This will create a tremendous burden on EGIS, Soliman
observed. In light of this, Soliman said "I would rather
they stay in Guantanamo Bay." After discussion of the
bilateral interest in this process, Soliman conceded that the
GOE had previously agreed to accept the Guantanamo Bay
detainees.


3. (S) Congresswoman Wilson then pressed Soliman for
assurance that should the Egyptians be returned from
Guantanamo, the GOE would treat them humanely and allow the
USG access to them. Soliman recalled the assurances
described in Ref A that upon their return to Egypt, all three
Egyptian detainees will be taken into custody and it will be
determined whether they violated any law. He then added that
the detainees will be treated "very well" and that visits by
a USG representative will be "no problem" as the USG and GOE
are "one team." Comment: Post believes that Soliman's oral
assurance should clear the way for the return of Egyptian
detainees at Guantanamo. End comment.


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JONES