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.


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