HONG KONG MINISTERIAL: EGYPTIAN COMMENTS ON

UNCLAS CAIRO 009179 SIPDIS SENSITIVE PASS USTR FOR SAUMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EG WTO SUBJECT: HONG KONG MINISTERIAL: EGYPTIAN COMMENTS ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONVENTION AND AFRICAN WTO ISSUES REF: A. STATE 218115 ¶B. STATE 211956 THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) Post delivered ref A points on TRIPS and the Convention on Biological Diversity to Dr. Samiha Fawzy, First Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry, and separately to Walid El Nozahy, Head of the Ministry's WTO Office (who had no formal response). During the meeting, Fawzy contacted Egypt's WTO Mission in Geneva to ask about the issue. She specifically asked about the reftel point that Peter Mandelson may have indicated the EU's willingness during the November 30 G90 meeting to begin negotiations on biodiversity. Her counterpart in Geneva claimed that Mandelson had not made such a statement. Nonetheless, Fawzy promised to discuss the issue with her colleagues and provide a response to us on Egypt's position should the EU raise it at the Hong Kong Ministerial. ¶2. (SBU) Post also delivered ref B points on the USG's general approach to the Hong Kong Ministerial meeting; Fawzy was familiar with our goals for Hong Kong because of her participation in Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Rachid's trade discussions last week in Washington. Fawzy (who will be traveling to Hong Kong) reviewed reftel points and said that the GOE understood the USG desire to keep ambitions high, but be realistic about the outcome of the Hong Kong round. She stated that Egypt, as current head of the African Union, is heavily involved in the Doha Round issues of importance to Africa. Fawzy shared with trade officer three papers on Africa's position related to the Doha round. These papers have been sent to NEA/ELA Desiree Baron, EB/TPP/BTT/ANA Mikael Lurie, and USTR Ned Saums. RICCIARDONE