(C) VISIT TO EGYPT BY UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005555 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC UNGA MEPN EG SUBJECT: (C) VISIT TO EGYPT BY UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN NOTABLE FOR ITS LACK OF SUBSTANCE Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Presidential Spokesman Soliman Awad briefed Charge on September 5 on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's meeting with President Mubarak earlier that day. The meeting covered Annan's recent visit with Syrian President Asad, Lebanon, Sudan, and the Arab League initiative to involve the Security Council in the Arab-Israeli peace process. While dismissive of a UNSC ministerial or international conference on the Arab-Israeli issue, Awad nevertheless supported a UNSC meeting - not at the ministerial level - on September 21 to discuss the peace process, as proposed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. End summary. -------------- Syria Talks -------------- ¶2. (C) Senior Presidential Advisor and Spokesman Soliman Awad briefed the Charge late September 5 on the just-concluded visit to Egypt by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Awad shared his view that the meeting that morning with President Mubarak had not broken any new ground. Annan, he said, briefed Mubarak on his other stops, focusing mainly on his talks with Syrian President Bashar Al Asad. Annan reported that Asad repeated his refusal to allow international forces along the Lebanese/Syrian border, and "promised cooperation" in ending arms transfers to Hizbollah. Mubarak, Awad stated, had urged Annan to press Israel to lift its blockade on Lebanese ports, and acknowledged Israel's legitimate security concerns regarding the blockade and its withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Annan reportedly agreed to both points. -------------- Naivete on Iran/Syria? -------------- ¶3. (C) Awad confided that UN senior official Terje Larsen had phoned shortly before Annan's arrival in Egypt to warn Awad that the Secretary General is "naive" on both Syria and Iran. Sharing his agreement with Larsen's assessment, Awad said Annan indeed had revealed naivete during his meeting with Mubarak. Awad said Mubarak had cautioned Annan not to believe anything the Iranians (or Iraqis) said. Mubarak also reportedly criticised Bashar al Asad as "lacking in experience." -------------- Sudan, Darfur -------------- ¶4. (C) Awad reported that Annan sought Mubarak's help in pressing the case for UN troops for Darfur. Mubarak, he said, told Annan he was "doing his best" to convince Khartoum to accept the transition from African Union forces. The Sudanese leadership, Mubarak reportedly told Annan, had "painted itself into a corner." Awad added that Mubarak had not spoken with Bashir recently and had no plans to do so. -------------- Arab UNSC Initiative -------------- ¶5. (C) Mubarak told Annan that the recent crisis in Lebanon is emblematic of the stagnation of the peace process. Mubarak's message to Annan, Awad said, was similar to that which the Egyptian President had shared with President Bush in his August 2 letter, and in recent press interviews. While Mubarak did not support Amre Moussa's efforts to encourage a UNSC ministerial and international conference, Awad continued, something had to be done. In this light, Awad added, it would be "unwise" for the U.S. to try to block a meeting at the UN Security Council on September 21. The Egyptians are not seeking a ministerial meeting with a UN Security Council resolution, he said. But a meeting in the Council, he added, would send a "positive message" that the U.S. and others were interested in pressing forward with the Roadmap. Egypt and the U.S. have "identical views" on the peace process; we support President Bush's vision for a two-state solution, Awad concluded. JONES