CODEL WOLF DISCUSSES AYMAN NOUR WITH GAMAL MUBARAK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000330 SIPDIS NSC FOR DNSA ABRAMS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EG SUBJECT: CODEL WOLF DISCUSSES AYMAN NOUR WITH GAMAL MUBARAK Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a January 17 meeting with Gamal Mubarak, Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) pressed Gamal on Ayman Nour, religious freedom, and Egypt's support for the USG positions in international fora. In response to Rep. Wolf's request that the GOE work quickly to resolve the Ayman Nour matter, Gamal answered that "I get the message. It's clear." Gamal also offered an overview of the state of political reform in Egypt. End summary. ¶2. (C) Rep. Wolf, accompanied by the DCM, Chief of Staff Dan Scandling, and poloff (notetaker),met Gamal Mubarak for 45 minutes on January 17 at the NDP headquarters in Cairo, where Gamal maintains an office in his capacity as Chairman of the NDP's Policies Committee. Gamal was joined by his advisor Karim Haggag. -------------- Ayman Nour -------------- ¶3. (C) Rep. Wolf passed to Gamal copies of the masthead editorials on the Nour case that appeared in the December 29 editions of the Washington Post and New York Times. Rep. Wolf said that the Nour issue has a particular resonance in Congress since members identify with a parliamentarian who is challenging the executive branch of government. Rep. Wolf noted that he had never heard of Nour prior to his January 2005 arrest, but that (as the British did with Gandhi),the GOE had made Nour "a hero" by imprisoning him. Politically, Rep. Wolf told Gamal, the Nour prosecution is "a landmine. It is hurting you (the GOE) really badly." ¶4. (C) Gamal responded that he understood and appreciated Rep. Wolf's candid comments. Gamal said that the Nour case "distracts attention from what is really going on." Characterizing himself "as an observer," Gamal noted that he was struck by the fact that events in the Nour prosecution had played out in line with the steps called for in a Congressional Resolution that was passed shortly before Nour's release from detention in March 2005. Gamal emphasized that "we didn't interfere with either the presidential or parliamentary races." Gamal protested that accusations that he had played a role in motivating the prosecution of Nour were false: "I don't know the guy, I've never me the guy, and I've paid a price (for these accusations)." ¶5. (C) Note and comment: House Congressional Resolution 82 (March 3, 2005) condemned Nour's arrest and called for --the GOE to release Nour without delay; --the GOE to try Nour in a criminal court (vice emergency or military court),and allow him the right to present a full defense; --expressed support for the Egyptian people's struggle for democracy; --expressed support for President Bush's call for democracy in Egypt; --encouraged President Bush and Secretary Rice to support and assist human rights activists and the "nonviolent democratic oposition in Egypt;" and --encouraged the Egyptian parliament to follow through on President Mubarak's proposal to allow for direct presidential elections. By raising H. CON. RES. 82 with Rep. Wolf, Gamal reaffirmed that the GOE leadership takes seriously the views of the Congress. Gamal may also perceive that the US has "moved the goalposts" regarding the Nour case. He suggested that the GOE has treated Nour in line with the operative points of the March 2005 resolution, particularly in terms of a prompt release and providing Nour with an opportunity to present a full defense before a criminal court. End note and comment. -------------- Political Reform -------------- ¶6. (C) Gamal then segued into a discussion of political reform. He emphasized that the roots of strategic friendship between the USG and the GOE are very deep, and this friendship will be ever more needed in the days ahead. The litmus test of such a friendship, argued Gamal, is how we deal with setbacks such as the one represented by the Nour case. In particular, said Gamal, it is crucial not to let the Nour case roll back reform. The GOE reformists, he said, are moving with full force to open up the system and continue reform. ¶7. (C) Gamal said that the "stark lessons" of the 2005 parliamentary elections included that the ruling party's poor performance was the result largely of "failing to reach the people." Nevertheless, President Mubarak's agenda for political reform remained clear and reform as culture is "seeping into society." The new cabinet is "very impressive" and the economic picture is the brightest it has been in five years. Economic reform (including job creation and education reform) is proceeding well, and there the current parliament will soon tackle a debate on constitutional reform, including the political parties law, media privatization, and reform of the judiciary. President Mubarak's commitment is clear, said Gamal: he has a mandate for reform and "need to deliver to our constituency." ¶8. (C) Rep. Wolf thanked Gamal for his presentation of the reform agenda, and reiterated his view that politically, the GOE needs to "remove the wedge issue" of the Nour case. Rep. Wolf said that he came to Egypt "with no threats, with no leverage," but that he urged the GOE to resolve the Nour case so that it did no lasting damage to the bilateral relationship. Gamal Mubarak assured Rep. Wolf that he had heard and understood his message about the significance of the Ayman Nour issue. -------------- Religious Freedom and UN Issues -------------- ¶9. (C) Rep. Wolf then briefly turned to two other issues that he discussed with most other GOE interlocutors in Cairo. He urged Gamal to use his influence to address the issue of religious identification on the national ID cards, which disadvantages Baha'is and Muslims who seek to convert to Christianity. Finally, he noted that Congress would appreciate the GOE's support on UN reform issues and the Iranian nuclear question. Gamal thanked Rep. Wolf for his visit and his comments, and agreed to call on Rep. Wolf when he next visits Washington. ¶10. (U) Rep. Wolf did not clear this message before he departed. RICCIARDONE