Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO2734
2007-09-06 14:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPT: RULING PARTY TRIES, WITH PARTIAL SUCCESS,
how-toVZCZCXRO9913 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #2734 2491443 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061443Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6807 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002734
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RULING PARTY TRIES, WITH PARTIAL SUCCESS,
TO PREVENT MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING IRI OFFSHORE TRAINING
REF: CAIRO 2539
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002734
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RULING PARTY TRIES, WITH PARTIAL SUCCESS,
TO PREVENT MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING IRI OFFSHORE TRAINING
REF: CAIRO 2539
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Cairo representative of the International
Republican Institute (IRI),Keith Kidd, told us on September
2 that senior members of the National Democratic Party were
attempting to prevent individual NDP members from taking part
in an "offshore" training session organized in Morocco for
Egyptians. (Note: Because the GOE continues to refuse to
allow IRI to register to operate legally in Egypt, IRI--whose
Egyptian operations are funded by USAID--has been running
monthly offshore training programs for Egyptian NGO leaders
and politicians. End note.)
2. (C) According to Kidd, who contacted us via e-mail from
Morocco, both Ahmad Ezz (the NDP Secretary for Organization)
and Zakariya Azmi (who is both President Mubarak's Chief of
Staff and one of three assistant secretaries general of the
NDP, along with Gamal Mubarak and Alieddin Hillal) had issued
instructions that NDP members should not participate in the
IRI training in Morocco, which focused on campaign techniques
for candidates for the 2008 local council elections. Azmi
reportedly told the NDP members that "IRI is operating
against the State of Egypt."
3. (C) Kidd also reported that he was subjected to a
lengthy but polite passport inspection as he departed Cairo
International Airport. When he arrived in Rabat, via a short
Paris transit, it appeared that his luggage had been tampered
with (a TSA lock on the bag had been broken and the contents
obviously searched, but nothing was missing).
4. (C) Kidd told us on September 6 that six of the 14
invited NDP members did participate in the Rabat training.
He also said that several of the NDPers who had backed out at
the last minute had subsequently called to express their
apologies and ask if they could participate in future IRI
training sessions.
5. (C) Comment: The unwelcome decision by the NDP to turn
up the heat on IRI is somewhat offset by the fact that a
number of NDPers apparently felt that the benefits of IRI
training outweighed any potential punishment for violating
party discipline.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC STAFF FOR WATERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: RULING PARTY TRIES, WITH PARTIAL SUCCESS,
TO PREVENT MEMBERS FROM ATTENDING IRI OFFSHORE TRAINING
REF: CAIRO 2539
Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Cairo representative of the International
Republican Institute (IRI),Keith Kidd, told us on September
2 that senior members of the National Democratic Party were
attempting to prevent individual NDP members from taking part
in an "offshore" training session organized in Morocco for
Egyptians. (Note: Because the GOE continues to refuse to
allow IRI to register to operate legally in Egypt, IRI--whose
Egyptian operations are funded by USAID--has been running
monthly offshore training programs for Egyptian NGO leaders
and politicians. End note.)
2. (C) According to Kidd, who contacted us via e-mail from
Morocco, both Ahmad Ezz (the NDP Secretary for Organization)
and Zakariya Azmi (who is both President Mubarak's Chief of
Staff and one of three assistant secretaries general of the
NDP, along with Gamal Mubarak and Alieddin Hillal) had issued
instructions that NDP members should not participate in the
IRI training in Morocco, which focused on campaign techniques
for candidates for the 2008 local council elections. Azmi
reportedly told the NDP members that "IRI is operating
against the State of Egypt."
3. (C) Kidd also reported that he was subjected to a
lengthy but polite passport inspection as he departed Cairo
International Airport. When he arrived in Rabat, via a short
Paris transit, it appeared that his luggage had been tampered
with (a TSA lock on the bag had been broken and the contents
obviously searched, but nothing was missing).
4. (C) Kidd told us on September 6 that six of the 14
invited NDP members did participate in the Rabat training.
He also said that several of the NDPers who had backed out at
the last minute had subsequently called to express their
apologies and ask if they could participate in future IRI
training sessions.
5. (C) Comment: The unwelcome decision by the NDP to turn
up the heat on IRI is somewhat offset by the fact that a
number of NDPers apparently felt that the benefits of IRI
training outweighed any potential punishment for violating
party discipline.
RICCIARDONE