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. 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