MUBARAK'S POSITION ON LEBANESE ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003137

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE EG
SUBJECT: MUBARAK'S POSITION ON LEBANESE ELECTIONS

REF: RICCIARDONE/FELTMAN/SATTERFIELD EMAILS OF OCT 25

Classified By: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR WILLIAM R. STU
ART.
REASONS: 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) The Ambassador got a read-out from Presidential
Advisor Soliman Awaad on the October 21 visit of Lebanese
Army Commander Michel Sleiman. According to Awaad, Sleiman
thanked Mubarak for Egyptian military assistance (i.e. the
delivery of ammunition in July for use in the confrontation
with Fatah al-Islam at Nahr al-Bared refugee camp) and gave
an overview of the political state of play in Lebanon. Note:
Egyptian media coverage of the Sleiman-Mubarak meeting was
sparse, with no reference to any discussion of Lebanese
political dynamices or the election.


2. (C) Awaad said that Mubarak told Sleiman that Egypt hopes
for a "broad based-consensus of Lebansese people, far from
the intervention of outside powers, and by that I mean
specifically Iran and Syira." Mubarak categorically did not
get into details of any of the various majority formulations,
and did not express endorsement for any presidential
candidate.


3. (C) The position as relayed by Awaad is in line with what
our MFA interloctuors have consistently told us: the
Egyptians want the Lebanese to agree among themselves; they
support Siniora as PM; they are keeping equal distance from
the factions.
RICCIARDONE