Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO5555
2006-09-06 15:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

(C) VISIT TO EGYPT BY UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNSC UNGA MEPN EG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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O 061539Z SEP 06
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1128
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
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
-------

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