ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERS: MIDDLE EAST PEACE MUST BE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002730

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS IZ XP
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERS: MIDDLE EAST PEACE MUST BE
"COMPREHENSIVE"


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) During its September 5 annual ministerial meeting,
Arab League (AL) foreign ministers confirmed their support
for President Bush's proposed meeting for Middle East peace,
but stressed a comprehensive approach producing tangible
results. AL Secretary General Amre Moussa said in a press
conference after the meeting that upcoming peace talks must
provide "solid results" to launch a "true peace process."
Moussa called for "confidence building" measures from the
Israeli side and criticized Israeli Foreign Minister Livni's
recent statements that "lowered expectations" for the
conference. Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, who
chaired the meeting, noted that "Syria's and Lebanon's
participation in the conference was integral for its
success." The AL affirmed that peace depends on an Israeli
withdrawal to 1967 borders and a negotiated settlement
regarding Palestinian refugees in line with UN Security
Council Resolution 194 from 1948, according to regional press.


2. (C) Speaking to the Ambassador on September 6, Moussa
emphasized his belief that the U.S. is serious about peace,
but that he doubts the Israeli attitude given public
statements by Livni and other Israeli officials. The
Ambassador pressed Moussa to encourage, rather than
criticize, the Israelis, to which Moussa repeated his public
call for Israel to "build confidence; they should at least
declare a moratorium on settlements for six months." Moussa
described Middle East Envoy Tony Blair's mission as
"essential and necessary," in that his focus on economic
development and security institutions will help with
confidence building.


3. (SBU) Separately on September 6, AL Chief of Staff Hisham
Youssef emphasized to poloff the importance of addressing all
issues - Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese -
"comprehensively." Accordingly, he said, there can be "no
exclusion of parties, tracks or subjects" - Syria must
participate in the proposed conference, and the issues of
Jerusalem, borders, and refugees must all be on the table.


4. (SBU) On the internal Palestinian situation, Youssef
continued, the League supports a return to the pre-June Hamas
take-over of Gaza "status quo," and stands ready to assist in
turning over institutions under Hamas control back to the
Palestinian Authority. Returning to the pre-June status quo
is a prerequisite for further dialog with Hamas, he said.
Moussa stressed to the Ambassador that the status quo does
not mean returning to a unity government, but rather that
Hamas must return government buildings and facilities and
stand down militarily.


5. (U) The AL also discussed other regional concerns,
according to regional press. Regarding Iraq, the AL
ministers affirmed support for the UN role and for efforts
towards political and security stability, and urged Iraqi
leaders to work seriously towards national reconciliation.
AL ministers agreed to open an account to collect donations
for Iraqi refugees residing various Arab states, Medelci said
in his press statement.
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