GOE OFFICIALS RAISE ANTICIPATED CONCERNS ON MFO

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007451

SIPDIS

ROME FOR MFO(LAROCCO/GUDGEON)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015
TAGS: PREL EG IS MFO
SUBJECT: GOE OFFICIALS RAISE ANTICIPATED CONCERNS ON MFO
TRANSITION TO UH-60


Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth
Dibble separately briefed Foreign Ministry and Liaison Agency
with International Organizations (LAWIO) officials on the
MFO's upcoming transition to the UH-60 helicopters during
meetings in Cairo September 22-24. The Assistant Minister
for Legal Affairs and Treaties Abdel Azziz Seif al Nasser
promised to study the briefing materials and raise any
concerns with the Embassy. After hearing the briefing,
LAWIO's General Emir and Colonel Osama noted that getting an
additional two million USD to fund the transition would be
difficult. In the LAWIO meeting, General Emir stated that
MoD was taking all steps to meet MFO security needs. End
summary.


2. (U) During her September 22-24 meetings in Cairo, NEA DAS
Elizabeth Dibble discussed the upcoming transition to the
UH-60 helicopters with Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal
Affairs and Treaties Abdel Azziz Seif al Nasser and LAWIO
officials General Emir and Colonel Osama. Acknowledging that
he is new on the MFO portfolio (having assumed his duties as
Assistant Minister just two weeks previously),the Assistant
Minister promised to study the briefing material and pass any
concerns to the Embassy.


3. (U) LAWIO officials, by comparison to their MFA
colleagues, were somewhat critical of the proposed
transition, noting that the cost is the primary concern.
"The MFO's role has not expanded," Colonel Osama said, adding
that the GOE just increased its contribution to the MFO by
USD two million. General Emir said that the UH-60 is "more
helicopter" than the MFO needs. Colonel Osama complained
that the GOE only heard last year that the transition to the
UH-60 might cost more money. He also noted that the GOE did
not want to pay to train new pilots and expressed a vague
concern that the pilots would not be mission ready before
April 2006 and that the package of parts for the UH-60s would
not be sufficient. Finally, the GOE asked for an increase in
the number of offset hours. In response, the DAS promised to
check on the parts package and explained the formula by which
the USG determines offset hours. She also confirmed that MFO
would receive pilots with a range of experience, and said
that the U.S. Army was committed to avoiding any disruption
in service during the transition.


4. (C) On MFO security, General Emir said that the GOE is
addressing all of the MFO's concerns/requests, including the
request for additional patrols. He noted, however, that he
believes that the MFO was targeted with the IED by people
wanting to send a message to the Egyptian police, not the
MFO. (Note: Emir is referring to the recent tensions between
security forces and the Sinai population arising from the GOE
reaction to and investigations into the October 2004 Taba
bombing and the July 2005 Sharm El Sheikh bombings. End
note.). General Emir and Colonel Osama concluded by
acknowledging that that force protection would remain a
priority.


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JONES