EGYPT'S PROPOSAL FOR BILATERAL NON-PROLIFERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 009316 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL EG IS SUBJECT: EGYPT'S PROPOSAL FOR BILATERAL NON-PROLIFERATION TALKS REF: A. STATE 202037 ¶B. CAIRO 8543 Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Foreign Ministry's primary point of contact for disarmament and non-proliferation Dr. Hossam Aly provided poloff with an unofficial proposal for the agenda for the non-proliferation bilateral talks. The unofficial proposals for the agenda include the following, and clearly reflect MFA focus on Egypt's objectives in the region: (a) Regional Issues, including Iran, the creation of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, options for diffusing the nuclear issue in the Middle East (Note: The GOE will certainly want to discuss Israel in the context of this agenda item. End note.); (b) The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and challenges to the NPT regime; (c) The IAEA, including U.S. and Egyptian priorities in the Board of Governors and conference, universality of the Comprehensive Safeguards System and the Advisory Committee on Safeguards (Note: Egypt is frustrated with Iran and its failure to cooperate with the IAEA; however, it has not yet voiced its support for referring Iran to the Security Council. End note); (d) Proliferation Security Initiative. (Note: MFA contacts have asked for a thorough briefing on this issue. End note.); (e) Landmines: Update on the Cairo International Conference (December 27-29) on demining; Ottawa Convention (Note: Post realizes that may be beyond the scope of the proposed discussions. End note); (f) CTBT, conventional arms/small and light weapons. ¶2. (C) The MFA advised that Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Naela Gabr, who would be a key player in the discussions, is planning to be outside Egypt in late January, returning to Cairo on February 10. According to our MFA contacts, Assistant Minister Gabr would be available to host the bilateral talks in Cairo at any time between the 10th of February and the end of that month. ¶3. (C) Comment. Post notes that this agenda is a draft proposal open for negotiation with Washington. End comment. JONES