Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME2961
2006-10-25 14:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

EGYPT SEEKS DETAILS ON FRENCH OFFER FOR MILITARY

Tags:  PGOV XF ZP NATO IT 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9779
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHRO #2961 2981454
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 251454Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6350
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 1829
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 7800
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 1951
C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002961 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR, NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV XF ZP NATO IT
SUBJECT: EGYPT SEEKS DETAILS ON FRENCH OFFER FOR MILITARY
COOPERATION TO GCC

Classified By: POL M/C David D. Pearce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002961

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR, NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV XF ZP NATO IT
SUBJECT: EGYPT SEEKS DETAILS ON FRENCH OFFER FOR MILITARY
COOPERATION TO GCC

Classified By: POL M/C David D. Pearce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Under instructions from Cairo, Egyptian
DCM Abu Bakr Hefny Mahnoud, called on Pol M/C Pearce and
Poloff on October 24 to ask for information on a French-led
initiative, in which the Italians along with several other
Mediterranean countries participated, to increase military -
military cooperation and/or arms sales with GCC countries.
Pol M/C said we had not heard of the initiative, but would
look into it. In a subsequent phone conversation with
Italian MFA NATO Office Director, he confirmed the French had
led an exploratory mission to evaluate opportunities for
security and defense cooperation with GCC nations and that
the Italians had participated as an observer. End Summary.


2. (C) Egyptian DCM Mahnoud asked if we had heard anything
about a French initiative to sell arms or increase defense
cooperation with GCC countries. He said the French
initiative was not related to NATO or the EU, but had been
supported by Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal.


3. (C) MFA NATO Office Director Minister Gianni Bardini
confirmed to Poloff in an October 24 telephone conversation
there had been a mission to explore options for increased
security and defense cooperation with GCC countries in
mid-September which the French had sponsored, independently
of the EU and NATO, and in which Italy had participated,
along with several other European countries, as an observer.
Bardini said the mission had been exploratory in nature and
that the goal was to see whether there was an interest on the
part of the GCC countries in exploring options for increasing
security and defense cooperation in the form of joint
exercises, training opportunities and/or exchange programs.
He said the French had characterized the initiative as
complementary to NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)
and not/not a duplication of efforts. The French-led
delegation held talks with high-level interlocutors in GCC
capitals who were receptive to the idea, but who also asked
for clarification on how this initiative is different from
NATO's ICI, and expressed some concern that the initiative
complement and not compete with ongoing NATO ICI programs.


4. (C) Bardini emphasized the Italian desire not to see
this initiative enter into competition with NATO's ICI and
said the Italians had expressly asked the French to state
their desire not to compete with ICI in their informal
proposal. He said there have been no tangible outcomes from
the visits thus far, stressing the exploratory nature of this
first outreach.


5. (C) Comment. The Italians appear skeptical as to the
initiative's ability to get off the ground, and more
importantly differentiate itself from NATO's ICI; but
participated as an observer in an effort not to be left out
in case it takes off. The Italians are staunch supporters of
NATO's outreach in the region, and have confidence in NATO's
proven track record of cooperation with Med Dialogue
countries. End Comment.
SPOGLI