THE DEPUTY SECRETARY,S MAY 20 MEETING WITH GAMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 003235

SIPDIS

NEA FOR ELA
NSC FOR SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EG
SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY,S MAY 20 MEETING WITH GAMAL
MUBARAK



1. (U) Classified by: Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


2. (U) MAY 20, 2006; 5:30PM; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt


3. (C) Participants:

U.S.
--------------

The Deputy Secretary
Ambassador Ricciardone
NEA DAS Scott Carpenter
D Executive Assistant Mike Matera
D Special Assistant Aaron Jost

Egypt
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Gamal Mubarak, General Secretary of the Policy Committee of
the National Democratic Party
Karim Haggag, Aide to Mr. Mubarak



4. (C) Summary: The Deputy Secretary and Gamal Mubarak
discussed political reform in Egypt on the margins of the
World Economic Forum in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. End Summary.


5. (C) Mubarak assessed that he had had a good visit to the
United States. He had sensed tension on Capital Hill,
particularly concerning political reform, however, this was
due to a "gap in perception" on the issue: while there may be
challenges or disagreements on the issue, reform on all
fronts is moving forward. For instance, many in the United
States discussed the extension of the Emergency Law (which
the Government of Egypt had never claimed could not be
extended) but few seemed to note the provision that the
Emergency Law will expire when a counterterrorism law passed
- this is significant step towards the end of the Emergency
Law. There were unrealistic expectations on the timeline for
reform, though he is "fairly confident" that a "great deal"
of his father's political reform agenda will have been dealt
with by the end of the legislative session. In particular,
he hoped reforms to the judiciary, criminal procedures and
press libel laws would be completed by the end of the year,
while discussions within the legislature on constitutional
reforms would continue. Many oppose reforms and the
constitutional review will generate intense debate, some of
it unexpected. Mubarak provided the Deputy with a National
Democratic Party paper entitled "President Mubarak's
Electoral Program and Egypt's Agenda for Reform" (provided to
NEA/ELA).


6. (C) The Deputy Secretary noted the importance of Egyptians
making their case directly to Congress and the international
community. The U.S. administration understands the benefits
of a close relationship, including cooperation on important
issues such as Sudan, and will back its request for
assistance to Egypt. The political reform agenda on which
President Mubarak campaigned was a solid starting element of
the necessary political reform, and progress on legislative
implementation was needed. However, the Government of Egypt
was creating real challenges for itself by, for instance,
imprisoning Ayman Nour.


7. (C) Mubarak countered that the Ayman Nour case
demonstrated his father's respect for the independence of the
judiciary; the President had refrained from interfering in
case out of principle even when some in the judiciary had
urged him to do so. (NOTE: Gamal repeated this assertion in a
one-on-one conversation with Ambassador the following day.
Ambassador responded that senior judges were saying, before
the May 18 high court rejection of Nour's appeal, that a top
aide to Mubarak, specifically Zakaria Azmi, had signaled
Palace intent at least with respect to the severe sentencing,
which is at the heart of the issue. Granted that even if
this story is true, Azmi may have been free-lancing,
nonetheless the damage to Mubarak's credibility over this
case has been substantial. Gamal angrily rejected such
rumors as deliberate attempts by opposition elements to
undermine Mubarak. End note)


8. (C) Responding to a question from the Deputy, Mubarak
described the mood in Egypt towards reform as mixed. The
2005 presidential campaign had been an eye opener for the
Egyptian people, and many had since told Mubarak that they
wished they had registered to vote. On the other hand, the
intense debate of important issues witnessed so far this year
was new to Egypt and this worried some Egyptians. Mubarak
tells such Egyptians that they should be concerned, and that
their concern should motivate them to participate in the
debates. In Mubarak's view, such concerns were to be expected
when important changes are considered, and leaders must guide
the people forward.

9. (C) The Deputy Secretary reiterated the need for Egypt to
find a solution to the Ayman Nour case and press ahead with
reforms. Egypt should demonstrate leadership on reform by
taking steps it was not being pressured to do. For instance,
allowing the International Republic Institute and the
National Democratic Institute - institutions that clearly did
not pose a security threat - to the register as NGOs. Working
with them would show the government's seriousness about
democratic reform.


10. (C) Mubarak inquired about a regional micro-lending
program proposed to be part of the Fund for the Future. The
Deputy Secretary pledged to look into the issue and
encouraged Mubarak to also speak to the members of Congress
attending the conference about the proposal.


11. (U) The Deputy Secretary's party has cleared this cable.

RICCIARDONE