HURRICANE KATRINA, RECOGNIZING EGYPTIAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006945

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA OPS CENTER
SES-O PLEASE PASS TO THE HURRICANE KATRINA TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINS AEMR MARR CASC
SUBJECT: HURRICANE KATRINA, RECOGNIZING EGYPTIAN
ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 164132


1. Summary: The GOE has sent two C-130 aircraft with
relief supplies for Katrina victims. Senior Embassy
officials have made televised statements and issued a
press release to express U.S. gratitude. End summary.


2. The Government of Egypt has agreed to donate the
following items to American victims of Hurricane
Katrina:

- 20,000 blankets
- 8 tons of water
- 3 tons (approximately) of medical supplies
- 10,000 sets underwear
- up to 20 tons of macaroni
- unspecified amount jam (fruit preserves)


3. Yesterday, Tuesday, September 6, two Egyptian Air
Force C-130 aircraft left Cairo with the first
shipment, headed for the United States. The U.S.
military is also lending the use of its aircraft to
this effort. To commemorate the donation of this aid,
Major General Byron S. Bagby, Chief of the Office of
Military Cooperation at the American Embassy in Cairo,
participated in a televised ceremony at the Cairo-east
military airport, in which he thanked the Egyptians
for their donation. In addition, the Public Affairs
Section of the American Embassy in Cairo issued a
press release conveying the thanks of Ambassador
Ricciardone, on behalf of President Bush and the
American people, for this humanitarian gesture. The
texts of Major General Bagley and the Ambassador's
remarks follow below in this message. Both sets of
remarks have been posted on the Embassy's web page and
the attention of all of the media outlets in Cairo
have been drawn to them.


4. Text of American Embassy Cairo, Press Release,
September 6, 2005

The United States Expresses Gratitude to Government of
Egypt for Aid to the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

On behalf of President Bush and the American people,
Ambassador Ricciardone expresses his gratitude to the
Government of Egypt for its assistance to the victims
of Hurricane Katrina, which is being provided under
the auspices of the Ministry of Defense. Ambassador
Ricciardone wishes to affirm the United States' deep
appreciation for the kindness and compassion that
Egypt has shown in response to the devastation and
dislocation of people in the southeastern United
States. This donation is, moreover, a tangible
demonstration of the close friendship between our two
countries that will long be remembered. Today, the
first of these deliveries will leave Cairo on two
Egyptian Air Force C-130 transport planes, carrying
blankets, water, medical supplies, food, and clothes.
Today, Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation at
the American Embassy, Major General Byron S. Bagby,
will also personally deliver words of thanks to Major
General Fouad Abdul Halim, Advisor to the Minister of
Defense, at a small ceremony at the Cairo-East
military airport, the site of the airlift efforts.


5. Remarks of Major General Byron S. Bagby, Chief of
the Office of Military Cooperation, American Embassy
Cairo, Cairo East Airport, Cairo, Egypt, September 6,
2005

Good Afternoon, I am Major General Byron Bagby. I am
the Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation here
in Egypt. On behalf of Ambassador Francis Ricciardone,
I want to express my most sincere appreciation for the
generous donation of relief supplies that the Ministry
of Defense is donating to the United States.
Ambassador Ricciardone will express his thanks to the
Field Marshall in a couple of days in person and will
also send a letter to him this afternoon.

The Egyptian Ministry of Defense noticed that
Americans were suffering as a result of the
devastation from Hurricane Katrina. They immediately
stepped forward to offer donations that will help us
with the relief effort. Some of the items that they
are donating are twenty thousand blankets, eight tons
of water, about three tons of medical supplies, plus
some food and clothing items. In addition to making a
donation as large as they are making, Egypt is also
providing two of their Egyptian Air Force aircraft to
make the first two donation flights to the United
States. They will depart this afternoon. Other United
States aircraft will follow later in the week with the
remainder of the supplies.

I believe that this donation illustrates just how
strong the bond is between the United States and the
Arab Republic of Egypt. They're always there to help
other people. It's not just this donation that they
are making; but they've also made humanitarian
donations to Sudan, to Afghanistan, as well as having
a field hospital in Afghanistan that provides support
and is a part of the combined task force that supports
Operation Enduring Freedom. On behalf of Ambassador
Riccardone, the Ambassador of the United States, I
again express my sincere appreciation to the Egyptian
Ministry of Defense for their generous donation that
demonstrates exactly how strong the bond is between
our two nations.

RICCIARDONE