DAS GRAY DISCUSSES QUARTET MEETING, REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001833 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL EG IS IZ SU SUBJECT: DAS GRAY DISCUSSES QUARTET MEETING, REGIONAL ISSUES WITH ARAB LEAGUE CHIEF OF STAFF Classified by Charge D'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During a June 14 meeting with Arab League Cabinet Chief of Staff Hesham Youssef, NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gordon Gray discussed Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Darfur, and Western Sahara. Youssef outlined League views on the upcoming Quartet meeting in Cairo, reiterating the League's position that final status negotiations should be comprehensive and according to a specific timeline. On Lebanon, Youssef agreed that the Hariri Tribunal will convene but was concerned about potential conflicts that might arise in the Lebanese parliament over the details. Youssef said that the League's priority for the next Lebanese President is to ensure he enjoys broad support from the Lebanese people. On Iraq, Youssef expressed doubts over Prime Minister Maliki's commitment to national reconciliation and inclusivity. On Darfur, Youssef welcomed Sudanese President Bashir's acceptance of a hybrid force for Darfur, but acknowledged likely problems with Sudanese government follow-through. The League, at the request of both Morocco and Algeria, has no involvement in the Western Sahara dispute. End summary. -------------- Message to A/S Welch on Quartet Meeting -------------- ¶2. (C) Youssef asked Gray to deliver a message to NEA Assistant Secretary Welch regarding the upcoming Quartet meeting in Egypt. The League will emphasize three points, which are stipulated under the Roadmap, said Youssef: launching direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians; adopting a comprehensive approach; and specifying a time frame. Youssef said that the League is consulting with all parties ahead of the meeting to gather support for this stance. He stressed that it is critical to shift the dialog from "war" to "peace" at the upcoming Quartet meeting. -------------- Lebanon -------------- ¶3. (C) Youssef predicted a "difficult summer" ahead in Lebanon. Youssef agreed with Gray that the Hariri tribunal will happen, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1757, but worried about conflicts that might arise between conflicting Lebanese political forces over details of the tribunal. Gray said that it is time to shift the focus to the Presidential elections, making sure that they happen on schedule and are free of foreign interference. Youssef said that the League has the same goal, but places the priority on ensuring that the next Lebanese President also enjoys as broad support as possible from the Lebanese people. The League will discuss next steps on Lebanon during its June 15 Ministerial meeting in Cairo, Youssef said. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶4. (C) Youssef said that "the ball is in the Maliki government's court," and that the Maliki government must take steps to prove that it is serious about inclusivity. The Maliki government is not promoting consensus, but rather acting as if being elected has given it a mandate to do as it pleases, he said. Gray requested that League members, and particularly Iraq's neighbors, be more active on proposing ways forward in Iraq and engaging the Maliki government. Youssef responded that the League has been presenting ideas since 2004, which the U.S. had rejected, and that now the situation is much more difficult. The League does not see the political will from Iraqi players to move towards inclusivity at this time, Youssef said. -------------- Darfur -------------- ¶5. (C) Gray raised USG concerns that, by stipulating that all troops must be African in his acceptance of a UN/AU hybrid CAIRO 00001833 002 OF 002 peacekeeping force for Darfur, Sudanese President Bashir continues to block implementation of an effective force. Youssef echoed Secretary General Amre Moussa's public statement that Bashir's acceptance is a positive step, but acknowledged that a completely African force may be impractical, saying that "we will continue to work on these issues." Youssef disputed the utility of new U.S. sanctions on Sudan, saying that it is important for the U.S. to let UN/AU efforts take hold. Gray emphasized that President Bush delayed announcing new U.S. sanctions on Sudan precisely because of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's request, but that new sanctions may have helped push Bashir towards his new acceptance of the hybrid force. No matter what, the League will continue to support the joint UN/AU process on Darfur, said Youssef. -------------- Western Sahara -------------- ¶6. (C) Youssef said that the League has no involvement in the Morocco/Algeria dispute in the Western Sahara. Both countries had requested to keep mediation within the context of the UN, he said. ¶7. (U) DAS Gray has cleared this message. JONES