EGYPT: UPDATE ON IRI, NDI, AND IFES SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002537 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC STAFF FOR PAT DAVIS AND RICK WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: UPDATE ON IRI, NDI, AND IFES SUPPORT FOR POLITICAL REFORM Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 4, the Assistant Minister for American Affairs, Hatem Seif Al-Nasr, convoked the Ambassador to complain "on instructions" about IRI activities in Egypt. Al Nasr charged that IRI Country Director, Keith Kidd, had been traveling in the governorates and maintained a heavy schedule of meetings. He added that "we know all about" the off-shore democracy training programs being run by IRI. In a long-winded and indirect presentation, Seif Al-Nasr asked the Ambassador to put an end to the IRI activities. Ambassador said that he was not in a position to ask IRI to end its contact work in Egypt or its training programs outside of Egypt, which, on the contrary, we support. He asked Seif Al-Nasr to meet with Kidd to obtain a better understanding of IRI,s goals and program. ¶2. (C) The DCM advised IRI Director Kidd on August 8 of the GOE demarche and added that Embassy supports IRI activities and suggested no changes. In response to DCM,s query, Kidd reported that he has encountered no GOE interference with his appointments, his travel, or the off-shore training. If anything, he has noted a decline in surveillance. He has also not had any contact with GOE officials; his requests for meetings at the MFA to seek formal registration have been ignored. After departing Cairo on August 11, Kidd advised DCM that his departure from Cairo International Airport had been delayed by Egyptian security officials for approximately 45 minutes as they scrutinized his passport. Although the security officials insisted to Kidd that there was "no problem," this is the first time, to our knowledge, that expatriate employees of IRI, NDI, or IFES have been subject to close scrutiny while entering/exiting the country. In July, IRI had completed its third offshore training (in Morocco) for Egyptian activists. Although IRI's previous off-shore programs have been reported in the daily Rose Al Yusuf newspaper, there has been no coverage of the most recent program. There will be no August training. ¶3. (SBU) IRI has now conducted three week-long program offshore programs, in Turkey, Slovenia, and Morocco. The programs are well-attended, with 20-25 attendees each, out of approximately 30 invitations. Kidd plans continuing running these offshore programs through the next year. He said that feedback from attendees is positive and many new invitees are identified from alumni referrals. NDP members, mostly from the provinces, have comprised about a third of attendees. The balance is made up of NGO leaders, independents, and other registered party operatives. Kidd insisted that there is no IRI contact with the MB. The current curriculum is now aimed at the upcoming municipal council elections in spring 2008, though as Kidd acknowledged these may be postponed. Kidd said that IRI could expand offshore programs for Egyptian participants with more funds. ¶4. (SBU) Kidd will be in Washington during the week of August 13. DCM recommended that Kidd meet with NEA DAS Carpenter, DRL DAS Barks-Ruggles, and NSC Democracy Director Pat Davis. ¶5. (C) NDI and IFES also continue to explore the limits of the possible within the limited space that the GOE has permitted for them. NDI staff has been meeting with advocacy groups and civil society organizations outside of Cairo in preparation for planned offshore activities to build their capacity. NDI is also aiming to conduct offshore activities to improve the quality of candidate and issues platforms for the 2008 local council elections. IFES has pursued a strategy of cooperating providing unbranded technical and consulting support to legally registered Egyptian organizations, such as the National Council for Human Rights and the Ahram Center, which have in turn served as the formal hosts for training workshops on electoral administration and related matters. RICCIARDONE