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.
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