IRAQ: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001318 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM KPAO EG IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE MUQTADA AL-SADR REF: A. STATE 29931 (NOTAL) ¶B. STATE 27111 (NOTAL) Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA Spokesman and Deputy Assistant Minister Alaa Hadidi told Poloff March 1 that Egypt had no plans to welcome Muqtada Sadr to Egypt, nor had Sadr sought an invitation to visit the country (reftel). Hadidi shared that the GOE had been troubled by Sadr's recent visit to Jordan where he was met by the King and other senior GOJ officials, and sought USG views on the exchanges there. Hadidi conveyed general GOE disdain toward Sadr, who the GOE believed was under Tehran's control. Another MFA senior contact in the office of the Minister shared earlier that Egypt had been "snubbed" by Sadr recently in Damascus, thereby generating further dislike toward him. Sadr supposedly requested while in Damascus that Syria organize a meeting of Ambassadors from Iraq's "neighboring" states (a group in which Egypt has played a key role). However, Sadr reportedly requested that Egypt not be included in the gathering. ¶2. (C) Comment. While we can not rule out the possibility that Sadr might, in the future, seek an invitation from either the Arab League or the GOE, particularly should he be given a position in a new government, it seems an unlikely prospect. The Egyptians clearly distrust him. As for the Arab League, Sadr's refusal to meet with AL SYG Moussa during the latter's Iraq visit last year unless the SYG made certain declarations (which led to no meeting),suggests Moussa will be cautious about meeting Sadr. End comment. RICCIARDONE