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