EGYPT AND EUROPEANS FAIL TO FINALIZE NEW FRAMEWORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 003975 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID EFIN EG SUBJECT: EGYPT AND EUROPEANS FAIL TO FINALIZE NEW FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT; HUMAN RIGHTS AND DISARMAMENT LANGUAGE DERAIL NEGOTIATIONS Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request. Please see paragraph seven. -------------- Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) According to Egyptian and European contacts, significant disagreement on human rights and non-proliferation language derailed efforts to negotiate a new EU-Egypt bilateral Framework Agreement, to have been signed June 13 by ministers in Brussels. The 35-page draft agreement, a by-product of the EU's "European Neighborhood Policy," covers nearly all aspects of the EU's relationship with Egypt, including sensitive political reform issues. Our contacts believe the two sides will look to overcome differences ahead of their next ministerial meeting in six months. The impasse reflects European frustration over Egypt's slow reform efforts and recent repressive tactics against reformers, and Egyptian stubbornness. The EU's strong May 15 statement reacting to Egypt's political situation raised Egyptian ire and likely contributed to both sides refusing to compromise. Post believes it worthwhile to bolster our European colleagues' efforts to continue pressing hard for political reform in Egypt. End summary. -------------- Framework Agreement: Background -------------- ¶3. (C) Following from the May 2004 decision to enlarge the European Union, the EU's European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) was designed to engage Europe's periphery, namely the Southern Mediterranean countries, Russia, and the Western Newly-Independent States. All of North Africa, Israel, and the Levant are included within the ENP. With each of these countries, the EU must negotiate a bilateral "framework agreement" which covers nearly all aspects of the respective relationship. With Egypt, the EU negotiated a 35-page draft document that includes specific provisions to address political dialogue and reforms, human rights, cooperation on foreign and security policy, combating terrorism, nonproliferation of WMD, economic reforms, social development, trade, transport, energy, the environment, migration, science/technology cooperation, and cultural contacts. The two sides had been set to conclude negotiations ahead of scheduled ministerial-level talks on �A;Egypt's Association Agreement with Europe, and sign the new framework agreement on June 13. -------------- Negotiations Stalled -------------- ¶4. (C) Egypt and the EU failed to sign the framework agreement after the two sides collided over European insistence on language related to human rights, and after Egypt insisted on additional language to cover disarmament. On the human rights issue, UK poloff shared that Egypt, in general, found the EU's language on human rights to be intrusive and problematic. Specifically, he said, Egyptian negotiators accused the EU of trying to "force down their throats" principles that were offensive to Islam, such as acceptance of homosexual marriage and other "Western" social values. The Brit said the EU insisted on language to establish a bilateral "Human Rights Action Committee" - something the EU had done with all but one other ENP country (i.e. Israel). The Egyptians knew of the exception and demanded no less. "We did not overlook human rights issues with Israel," he defended, "but it was not simple: it was a special case." Egyptian negotiators also tried to "water down" language on human rights, and demanded creation of a committee to discuss defamation and cultural issues. "They want to keep talking about cartoons in Europe, instead of their police bashing judges in Egypt," he complained. ¶5. (C) On the issue of disarmament and non-proliferation language, our UK colleague said merely that the Egyptians objected to draft EU language and wanted to add "their standard concerns over Israel." Egyptian MFA Disarmament Affairs Office Director Dr. Hossam Aly complained that the EU only wanted to reference non-proliferation, without any reference at all to our disarmament efforts, or reference to the NPT, or rights to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. "We cannot operate under duress," Aly stated. One or two EU states, he added, objected to our proposals and succeeded in CAIRO 00003975 002.3 OF 002 blocking any changes to the draft. Asked when negotiations would continue and likely wrap up, Aly believed another effort to conclude the agreement would be made ahead of the next bilateral talks "in six months." -------------- -- European Statement on Egyptian Political Issues -------------- -- ¶6. (C) Dissatisfaction over Egypt's slow pace of political reform and harsh tactics against domestic critics is widespread among European colleagues in Cairo. On May 15 the European Union's Council Presidency released a harsh condemnation of the prolongation of Egypt's emergency law, the GOE's treatment of judges, and its treatment of civil society activists. The statement called upon the GOE to allow civil society activists and other political forces to "express themselves freely, to permit peaceful demonstrations and freedom of assembly and to maintain public order by transparent and proportionate legal procedure." The statement struck a raw nerve within the GOE and the reaction was not positive. -------------- Action Request -------------- ¶7. (C) Post believes it would be worthwhile to encourage EU negotiators and key European capitals to hang firm in their talks with Egypt over democracy and human rights language in their draft framework agreement. The impasse with the GOE provides a useful opportunity for us in the coming months to reaffirm our shared objectives with our European partners to continue pressing for an end to the emergency law, respect for the independence of the judiciary, and space for broader political and social reform within Egypt. RICCIARDONE