SOMALIA: EU ENVOY VISITS CAIRO, HEARS ARAB VIEWS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001380

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ARABL EG SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA: EU ENVOY VISITS CAIRO, HEARS ARAB VIEWS
ON SOMALIA


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


1. (C) New European envoy for Somalia, Jean-Christophe
Belliard, was in Cairo May 8-9 for meetings with senior
officials at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and Arab League to
discuss ways forward on the political track in Mogadishu. UK
poloff Martin Hetherington told emboff on May 9 that Belliard
briefed EU diplomats at the conclusion of his visit, telling
them that both the GOE and Arab League had negative views
toward the Transitional Federal Government's (TFG) ability to
end the conflict and achieve national reconciliation.
Belliard reportedly was told by the Egyptians and AL
Assistant Secretary General Ben-Helli that meaningful
reconciliation among Somalis required dialogue with
influential former Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) figures,
including Sheikh Aweys and others in exile in Asmara and the
region. Arab League member states are expected to meet in
Jedda, he reportedly heard, before a June 16 reconciliation
conference planned by the TFG in Mogadishu.


2. (C) Poloff checked these points with Arab League
Secretariat Advisor Zeid Al Sabban on May 9. Sabban said the

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League was obliged by a March 2007 Summit resolution to meet
and discuss Somalia at the ministerial level in Jedda, Saudi
Arabia "in the near future." No date has been set for the
meeting, he said, and it remains undecided whether senior
officials will meet first in Cairo. The League, he said,
"would not take any steps without consulting closely with the
TFG -- including on invite lists." Should a meeting occur in
Jedda, he continued, organizations such as the United
Nations, the African Union, and the Inter-Governmental
Authority on Development may be invited. As for Sheikh Aweys
and other former UIC figures, he said the League's position
is consistent with UNSC resolutions: those who threaten the
political process with violence "are not welcome." Sabban
said that Belliard considered Aweys to be a "peace leader."


3. (C) Comment: Given the third-person readout of
Belliard's meetings, it would be best to compare notes either
directly with him or with other European colleagues tracking
Somalia issues. Certainly, the next meeting of the
International Contact Group on Somalia in London will offer
an opportunity to engage directly with Belliard, the League,
and possibly the Egyptians on their respective views and
plans.
RICCIARDONE