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).

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Summary
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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.

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Message to A/S Welch on Quartet Meeting
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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.

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Lebanon
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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.

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Iraq
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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.

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Darfur
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5. (C) Gray raised USG concerns that, by stipulating that all
troops must be African in his acceptance of a UN/AU hybrid

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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.

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Western Sahara
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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