EGYPT DISCUSSING NATIONAL POSITION ON CLUSTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000160

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PM/WRA (BAKER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2012
TAGS: PARM PREL NATO EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT DISCUSSING NATIONAL POSITION ON CLUSTER
MUNITIONS

REF: STATE 6667

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


1. (C) POLOFF discussed the movement to develop a legally
binding treaty to restrict the use of cluster munitions (CM)
with MFA's Director of Disarmament Dr. Hossam Aly on January

22. Dr. Aly said that representatives of several ministries
discussed CM at a recent "National Committee" meeting on
disarmament issues, but Egypt has not yet developed a
consolidated national position. He added that Egypt had not
yet been invited to the Oslo conference, but had asked its
mission in Oslo to solicit an invitation and plans to send a
disarmament expert to the meeting. He was not aware of the
April ICRC-sponsored conference in Montreaux.


2. (C) Dr. Aly promised to follow up with other concerned
ministries on the military implications of the CM ban and to
provide insight into this issue at a follow-up meeting within
a week. Dr. Aly said that because the Egyptian national
position on CM is still under discussion, the GOE may view a
proposal for mil-mil discussions as premature. Emboffs will
follow up with Ministry of Defense contacts on the proposal
for military discussions and report the response separately.
RICCIARDONE