Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO258
2006-01-18 11:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKEMAN'S STATEMENT FOLLOWING

Tags:  PREL PGOV SY IZ IS IR EG UN IAEA 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

181103Z Jan 06
UNCLAS CAIRO 000258

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY IZ IS IR EG UN IAEA
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL SPOKEMAN'S STATEMENT FOLLOWING
MUBARAK-VICE PRESIDENT MEETING


In a press conference on January 17 following President
Mubarak's meeting with Vice President Cheney, Presidential
Spokesman Soliman Awwad made the following statement:

Begin statement:

The Mubarak-Cheney talks lasted for two hours and touched on
various issues, including the Middle East, Sharon's health,
Palestinian elections, Iran, Iraq, the Syrian-Lebanese
situation, multilateral relations, and bilateral relations.

Iraq:

The talks dealt with means of restoring calm, stability, and
independence and maintaining Iraqi unity while achieving
dtente among various factions. Egypt has trained Iraqi
troops and security elements in Egypt and is still offering
to help Iraq rebuild its cadres. Through ORASCOM Telecom,
Egypt is taking part in the reconstruction of Iraq despite
the difficult conditions Iraq is going through.

Iran:

There has to be a certain quorum for an emergency IAEA
meeting in Vienna to discuss referring Iran's nuclear file to
the SC. Egypt calls for continuing the (international)
dialogue with Iran through diplomatic channels. Israel is
the only country in the region whose nuclear establishments
are not subject to inspection and the guarantees of the IAEA.
We call for internationalizing the NPT and having all
countries abide by the provisions of the Treaty, including
Israel. We also urge Iran to show further flexibility and
transparency because the Middle East does not need a nuclear
weapon race. Egypt's call for removing all WMD from the
region goes back 15 years. The credibility of the EU
position towards Iran,s nuclear program will remain
dependent on (adopting) a similar position towards
internationalizing the NPT without any double standards.

Syria-Lebanon:

We can't say that the Mubarak-Cheney talks today came up with
solutions, yet the talks were part of Mubarak's contacts with
various international and regional leaders. The issue is not
simple, but it has to be based on conformity with legitimacy
and the implementation of SC resolutions. Egypt always calls
for complying with UN and SC resolutions. You cannot call
for adhering to legitimacy with regard to the Palestinian
issue and the peace process and not to other issues. Syria
has responded (positively) to the investigating commission
and declared compliance with the legitimacy of the (relevant)
UN resolutions. We keep on encouraging the Syrian and
Lebanese sides to comply with legitimacy and reach the best
method of normalizing and restoring bilateral relations to
their healthy course. Mubarak's consultations with VP Cheney
are just like his consultations with French President Chirac
on January 4, as well as his contacts with regional and
international parties with the aim of reaching an appropriate
formula that would allow Syria to cooperate with the
international investigating commission. One of these
formulas is how to find a way out to continue the cooperation
while maintaining Syria's dignity and sovereignty.

Egypt-U.S.:

Mubarak did not have time last year to visit the U.S. His
last visit was in April 2004. The year 2005 was a busy year
that was full of major political developments that changed
Egypt's democratic experience in December 2005. All options
are open for a Mubarak visit to the U.S. this year but this
issue was not discussed and no date has been set. Bilateral
relations are deep and fixed and bilateral cooperation is
diverse and multifaceted even if viewpoints are not identical
on one issue or another. The Mubarak-Cheney meeting is
expressive of the U.S. appreciation of Egypt's role. The
U.S. VP comes to hear Mubarak's views just like Mubarak heard
the U.S. views on various regional issues.

Reform:

Friends in Washington know that Egypt is not going to go back
on reform. Egypt has declared this on many occasions and so
did the President himself. Egypt's democratic image in
December 2005 was totally different from January 2005.

End statement.

RICCIARDONE