EGYPT: STILL NO ANSWER ON US CANDIDATE FOR THE

UNCLAS CAIRO 005831 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNGA UNSC PHUM UNHCR EWWT INMARSAT EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: STILL NO ANSWER ON US CANDIDATE FOR THE IMSO REF: A. STATE 150486 ¶B. CAIRO 05526 ¶C. STATE 140757 ¶D. STATE 137429 ¶E. STATE 85758 ¶1. On September 17 emboff met with National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) Vice President for Policies and International Cooperation Dr. Offat Abd El Monsef to seek GoE support for the United States candidate to head the International Mobile Satellite Organizaton (IMSO). Dr. Abd El Monsef had no information but agreed to raise the issue with NTRA head Amr Bedowi (returning to Cairo September 18) and to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). ¶2. Emboffs previously raised this issue with MFA Office Director for Candidacy Issues Counselor Hatem Tag-Eldin and received an equally non-committal response (ref B). We will follow-up with both the NTRA and MFA on this issue later this week. RICCIARDONE