MUBARAK AND ARAB LEAGUE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SYRIA

UNCLAS CAIRO 008434 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR NEA, NEA/ELA NSC STAFF FOR POUNDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER SY EG IO UNSC SUBJECT: MUBARAK AND ARAB LEAGUE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SYRIA UNSC RESOLUTION REF: USUN 2510 Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) Neither the GOE nor the Arab League have have issued formal statements regarding UNSCR 1636. However, in a wide-ranging interview November 4 with Al Ahram newspaper, President Mubarak stressed the importance of maintaining Syrian stability. He also noted that he had discussed with Syrian President Asad means of "continuing cooperation" with the Mehlis investigation and expressed confidence that Asad's "wisdom" would lead to resolution of the situation. Mubarak also said he would not object to an Arab summit on the Syria situation should one be called. ¶2. (U) Al Gumhouriyya newspaper published November 3 comments by Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa. Post's informal translation of the brief Gumhouriyya article follows: Begin text: Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa asserted that the Arab League's vision of UNSCR 1636 on Syria was based on the fact that the resolution was issued in accordance with Chapter Seven of the U.N. Charter and, therefore, should be dealt with completely. Moussa pointed to Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa's remarks at the Security Council, namely that Damascus would cooperate with the investigating commission to the utmost. Meanwhile, unidentified Arab diplomatic sources in Beirut stressed that Syria was exerting efforts to try to prove to the international community its good faith and behavior towards the international investigating commission. End text. RICCIARDONE