EGYPT, ARAB LEAGUE REACT TO IRAQ CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007900 SIPDIS FOR NEA, NEA/ELA, NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ EG SUBJECT: EGYPT, ARAB LEAGUE REACT TO IRAQ CONSTITUTION COMPROMISE REF: STATE 188987 Classified by DCM Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador made reftel points to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit during a meeting October 13. Aboul Gheit argued that the constitution as drafted will inevitably lead to divisions among Iraq's Sunni, Shi'a, and Kurds. He expressed hope that there will be more work done to improve the document. The Ambassador stressed that the compromise that led the Sunni leadership to endorse the constitution allowed for precisely that. As a result, it was in Egypt's interest to encourage Iraqis to support the constitutional process. Aboul Gheit acknowledged the point but did not suggest he would take steps to encourage Iraq's Sunnis to support the document. ¶2. (C) Hesham Youssef, Chief of Arab League SYG Amre Moussa's cabinet, told ECPO Counselor that Moussa could claim some credit for the compromise, citing a discussion Moussa had earlier this week with IIP leader Tareq el Hashimi. Youssef could not commit his boss to any particular statement, but suggested that Moussa would speak positively on the subject when addressing the press later on October 13. RICCIARDONE