EGYPT TO PROVIDE MI-17 PARTS TO PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008496 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM PK EG SUBJECT: EGYPT TO PROVIDE MI-17 PARTS TO PAKISTAN REF: A. CAIRO 8424 ¶B. STATE 200915 Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following the Ambassador's conversation with DefMin Tantawi (Ref A) requesting that Egypt provide parts for the MI-17 helicopters supporting Pakistan's earthquake relief effort, the Ministry of Defense advised Post on November 6 that it will provide some or all of 15 of the 23 items requested. (Note: Of the 15 items, five are direct matches and 10 are comparable items that the Pakistani military is vetting for compatibility. End note.) The DefMin's senior advisor MG Fouad Abdel Halim told Emboffs that immediately following the Ambassador's phone call to the Field Marshal, the Field Marshal directed him and other senior officers to review the Ministry's part inventory and give whatever parts Egypt could spare. MG Fouad noted that he and other officers worked during the Eid holiday. CENTCOM is working to schedule the airlift for the parts. ¶2. (C) Comment: Egypt's MoD has a long history of cooperating with U.S. requests for assistance. In the recent past alone, the MoD has responded favorably to multiple requests for assistance. For example, the MoD sent arms and ammunition to Afghanistan, humanitarian relief to Hurricane Katrina victims, and humanitarian aid (tents and blankets) to Pakistan's earthquake victims. RICCIARDONE