ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON GOE GTMO DETAINEE ASSURANCES

S E C R E T CAIRO 006582 SIPDIS NEA FOR FO, ELA S/WCI FOR AMB. PROSPER, R. MILLER AND D. HODGKINSON L FOR J DOLAN DRL FOR C. CAMPONOVO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL PHUM PINR EG GTMO SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON GOE GTMO DETAINEE ASSURANCES REF: A. CAIRO 6487 ¶B. STATE 147191 Classified By: CDA Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- Summary and Comment -------------- ¶1. (S) This message adds additional detail to the GOE response regarding GTMO detainees as outlined in Ref A. Post received this information through established liaison channels and through face-to-face meetings with Egyptian General Intelligence Service (EGIS) Director Soliman. Soliman's thorough discussion of this issue coupled with separate discussions in liaison channels represents full Egyptian concurrence with the requested assurances for the transfer of Egyptian detainees. End summary and comment. -------------- Points Delivered and Acknowledged -------------- ¶2. (S) Due to General Soliman's travel outside of Cairo, ORA liaison delivered ref B demarche both orally and via non-paper on August 14 to the Chief of the National Security Bureau at EGIS. The Chief is responsible for all counterterrorism and detainee issues. He acknowledged receipt of the points and said that he would pass them to General Soliman for his review. General Soliman does not devolve decision-making authority on issues of such import. -------------- The GOE Response -------------- ¶3. (S) General Soliman returned to Cairo in order to meet with Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Peter Hoekstra and his delegation on August 20. Embassy Charge d'Affaires also attended the meeting. Post had briefed the delegation on the assurances issue and we used this opportunity to press General Soliman for a detailed response the latest request for assurances. ¶4. (S) The Egyptian response to the ref B demarche and to our presentation to General Soliman on August 20 was as follows: -- Soliman acknowledged receipt and understanding of the ref B talking points, which were passed verbatim. -- Soliman affirmed Egypt's commitment to treat the subjects humanely, according to Egypt's law and its commitments and international obligations under the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Soliman re-asserted that Egypt respects its obligations, and the returned detainees would not be subjected to torture. -- The detainees would not be held unless the Egyptian justice system had a case pending against them. Were they to be detained, the American Embassy would be granted access to them as has been done in the past. -- Egypt is willing to accept the repatriation of the Egyptian Guantanamo detainees and take full custody and control of them upon their return. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (S) As mentioned in ref A, the GOE would "rather (the detainees) stay in Guantanamo Bay," but have agreed to accept them in the spirit of counterterrorism cooperation. As Soliman noted, accepting the detainees imposes a security risk on Egypt and will require the mobilization of resources to monitor the individuals to ensure they do not pose a risk to Egyptian or U.S. national security. ¶6. (S) Soliman's Aug 20 presentation on this subject represents the definitive Egyptian response to our request for assurances. 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