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