READOUT OF BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY BECKETT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 005708

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MEPN KPAL PTER EG UK
SUBJECT: READOUT OF BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY BECKETT'S
EGYPT VISIT


Classified by: Minister Counselor for Economic and Political
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) UK Embassy Poloff Martin Hetherington provided emboff
with a brief readout of UK Foreign Secretary Margaret
Beckett's September 7 visit to Egypt, where she met
separately with President Mubarak, EGIS Chief Soliman,
Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit, and Arab League Secretary
General Amre Moussa. The primary issues discussed during her
75-minute meeting with Mubarak were the Arab-Israeli peace
process, Lebanon, Sudan, and Iran. Hetherington said Mubarak
reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to stopping Iran's acquisition
of nuclear weapons, yet was critical of U.S. policy for
allowing Iran the opportunity to expand its regional
influence, and counseled strongly against the military
option. Mubarak also reportedly lamented the USG refusal to
engage Syrian President Bashar Asad -- a policy he said which
pushed the Syrians into Iran's arms.


2. (C) On the Arab-Israeli conflict, Hetherington said EGIS
Chief Soliman briefed Beckett on his ongoing negotiations for
the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and Palestinian
prisoners held by Israel. Soliman reportedly described
ongoing GOE mediation efforts, and blamed Hamas' Syrian-based
leadership for hindering his efforts. Beckett previewed PM
Blair's regional tour, which Hetherington described as
primarily a "listening tour," with the announcements by
Olmert and Abbas to meet without pre-conditions as its core
achievement. Hetherington confided that Beckett shared with
the Egyptians and Arab League Secretary General Moussa UK
political support for efforts to convene a meeting at the UN
Security Council to address the Arab-Israeli conflict.


3. (C) Hetherington said the Egyptians chose not to discuss
Iraq, despite Beckett's previous stop in Baghdad en route to
Cairo. Nevertheless, Beckett learned that President Mubarak
had just invited Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki for an official
visit to Cairo. Similarly, AL SecGen Moussa avoided
discussion of Iraq, which suggested to the UK side that
League efforts on Iraqi reconciliation had slipped. (Note:
Iraqi FM Hoshyar Zebari met privately with Egyptian
Intelligence Chief Soliman during his September 5-7 visit to
Cairo for an Arab League ministerial, and told an Egyptian
newspaper that Iraq would post an Ambassador to Egypt by
year's end. End note.)


4. (C) Beckett also requested GOE leaders to press Sudanese
President Bashir to allow UN peace-keepers in Darfur, in
accordance with UNSCR 1706. The Egyptians, Hetherington
reported, downplayed UK concerns over lack of AU control in
Darfur and the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation
there. Beckett, he added, did not come away from her
meetings convinced that the Egyptians were committed to full
and prompt implementation of 1706. Echoing Arab League and
GOE public statements on the subject, the Egyptians expressed
concerns over the timing of UNSCR 1706, and the need for
Khartoum's acceptance of a UN force in Darfur.
JONES