Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO6711
2005-08-31 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

BUILDING SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION: EGYPT

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PHUM KPAO EG IZ 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006711 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM KPAO EG IZ
SUBJECT: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION: EGYPT

REF: A. STATE 158419


B. STATE 158420

C. STATE 160094 (NOTAL)

D. CAIRO 6673 (NOTAL)

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006711

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PHUM KPAO EG IZ
SUBJECT: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION: EGYPT

REF: A. STATE 158419


B. STATE 158420

C. STATE 160094 (NOTAL)

D. CAIRO 6673 (NOTAL)

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


1. (C) In conjunction with the Secretary's August 27 call to
Egyptian President Mubarak, the Charge delivered ref A and B
demarches on the Iraqi constitution to Presidential Spokesman
and Advisor Soliman Awad. Awad welcomed the USG points and
promised to share them with Egyptian Intelligence Chief
Soliman and Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit. Following up with
Awad August 31, the Charge shared ref C talking points,
sought an update on GOE response to our earlier demarche, and
again requested GOE public support for the Iraqi constitution
process. Awad shared that, after his August 27 conversation
with the Secretary, President Mubarak had instructed Egyptian
Intelligence Chief Soliman and Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit
to make phone calls to key Iraqi Sunni figures. Those calls
were made, Awad said, and the feedback that came back was
concern over the revised text in the draft constitution
dealing with Iraq's Arab identity. Awad said that Mubarak's
private response had been that this issue needed to be
resolved in a way that "showed respect for all Iraqis." (But
Awad added that Iraq was, of course, an Arab nation and that
Sunni concerns should be addressed.) Appropriate changes to
that language would help the situation tremendously, Awad
added. Responding, the Charge shared post's understanding
that changes to the language in question were already being
discussed by key parties in Baghdad. Awad was encouraged by
the news, and appeared receptive to Charge's request for
positive GOE public statements on the constitution.


2. (C) During an August 30 meeting with MFA Cabinet staffer
Alaa Hadidi poloff shared ref A/B/C talking points on Iraq's
constitution and requested that Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit
make positive public remarks on the process and the document.
Hadidi confirmed that Minister Aboul Gheit had yet to take a
public position on the constitution. Hadidi repeated GOE
complaints over current constitution language dealing with
Iraq's Arab character and expressed familiar Egyptian
neuralgia over supposed Kurdish and Shia separatist ambitions.


3. (C) Post also delivered ref A/B/C demarches to senior
Arab League officials on several occasions this week,
encouraging Secretary General Moussa to be more forthcoming
in support of Iraq's constitution and the political process
spelled out in UNSCR 1546. The consistent response, echoed
in Moussa's recent public statements, has focused on
constitution language on Iraq's Arab identity.


4. (C) Comment: Iraq's Ambassador to the Arab League, Raad
al-Alusi (protect) has been helpful in keeping us informed
about Egyptian, Arab League, and Iraqi Sunni views on the
constitution. Alusi, a Sunni close to former PM Allawi, has
echoed to us the same complaints as Moussa and the GOE
regarding constitution language on Iraq's Arab identity. He
told us August 31 that Kurdish objections would likely
prevent the present language from being amended, but that a
new sentence may be added noting that Iraq had been a founder
of the Arab League. Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari, Alusi
said, had called him that morning to instruct him not to make
any public comments about this issue, as sensitive
discussions in Baghdad were underway. 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