Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO1879
2007-06-19 14:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
REMOVING AL-ZAWRAA AND MANAR FROM ARABSAT
how-toVZCZCXRO9584 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #1879 1701439 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191439Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5740 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0185
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001879
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAO PTER EG IZ LE
SUBJECT: REMOVING AL-ZAWRAA AND MANAR FROM ARABSAT
REF: STATE 84112
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001879
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAO PTER EG IZ LE
SUBJECT: REMOVING AL-ZAWRAA AND MANAR FROM ARABSAT
REF: STATE 84112
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered demarche to Arab League Chief of
Staff Hisham Youssef on June 11, ahead of a ministerial
meeting of Arab Information Ministers expected to convene in
Cairo from June 20-24. POLOFF focused on the Arab League's
role as founder of the ArabSat organization.
2. (C) Youssef called POLOFF on June 12 to say that he had
discussed the matter with other AL officials, and that - to
date - none of the 22 Arab League member states had requested
Zawraa be removed from ArabSat. Youssef thought the League
would take "appropriate" steps (e.g., to remove Zawraa from
ArabSat) if there was a formal request to the Council of
(Information) Ministers. He suggested that it would make the
most sense if Iraq presented the request. Removing Manar is
far more politically complex and sensitive for the League,
given the role in Lebanese governance played by Hizballah and
the League Secretariat's role in trying to mediate among
disputing Lebanese political factions.
3. (C) Comment: It is not clear whether the late date and
parliamentarian procedures might prevent the issue from being
pursued at this meeting. Also, Iraq's Permanent
Representative to the League, Raad al Alusi, a Sunni
afiliated with former PM Allawi, may not be the right person
to press this issue, since he tried last year to arrange a
meeting in Cairo between Emboffs and Zawraa's visiting owner
Misha'an Al-Juburi (politely refused). Action would more
rightfully be in the hands of the Iraqi delegation to the
meetings in Cairo.
JONES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PREL ETTC KPAO PTER EG IZ LE
SUBJECT: REMOVING AL-ZAWRAA AND MANAR FROM ARABSAT
REF: STATE 84112
Classified by Charge d'Affaires Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) POLOFF delivered demarche to Arab League Chief of
Staff Hisham Youssef on June 11, ahead of a ministerial
meeting of Arab Information Ministers expected to convene in
Cairo from June 20-24. POLOFF focused on the Arab League's
role as founder of the ArabSat organization.
2. (C) Youssef called POLOFF on June 12 to say that he had
discussed the matter with other AL officials, and that - to
date - none of the 22 Arab League member states had requested
Zawraa be removed from ArabSat. Youssef thought the League
would take "appropriate" steps (e.g., to remove Zawraa from
ArabSat) if there was a formal request to the Council of
(Information) Ministers. He suggested that it would make the
most sense if Iraq presented the request. Removing Manar is
far more politically complex and sensitive for the League,
given the role in Lebanese governance played by Hizballah and
the League Secretariat's role in trying to mediate among
disputing Lebanese political factions.
3. (C) Comment: It is not clear whether the late date and
parliamentarian procedures might prevent the issue from being
pursued at this meeting. Also, Iraq's Permanent
Representative to the League, Raad al Alusi, a Sunni
afiliated with former PM Allawi, may not be the right person
to press this issue, since he tried last year to arrange a
meeting in Cairo between Emboffs and Zawraa's visiting owner
Misha'an Al-Juburi (politely refused). Action would more
rightfully be in the hands of the Iraqi delegation to the
meetings in Cairo.
JONES