Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO3518
2007-12-17 17:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
MFA ON LEBANON AND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION TO TEHRAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #3518 3511710 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171710Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7774 INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1125 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0971 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1309
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE SY EG IR
SUBJECT: MFA ON LEBANON AND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION TO TEHRAN
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Jones
Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE SY EG IR
SUBJECT: MFA ON LEBANON AND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION TO TEHRAN
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Jones
Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) MFA Cabinet Advisor for Iran Mahmoud Afifi told us
December 17 that the December 11 visit of Assistant Minister
for Asian Affairs Hussein Derar was to reciprocate the
September 18 visit to Egypt of an Iranian delegation (led by
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs
Abbas Araqchi). Afifi, and MFA Cabinet Advisor for the
Levant Nazih el Neggary, downplayed the significance of the
visit, and stressed that the timing was related neither to
recent regional events (e.g. the situation in Lebanon),nor
the USG release of the National Intelligence Assessment on
Iran's nuclear program.
2. (C) Neggary said that the recent visit to Beirut of A/S
David Welch was useful in that it showed the Syrians the USG
remains serious, and supportive of the March 14 majority. He
said the Syrians, as well as the Iranians, may have
calculated they could push for additional conditions on
election of Michel Sleiman because of a perception that the
USG was "preoccupied" with the Annapolis Conference,
especially in getting Syria to attend. He had heard that the
Syrians, were hoping to delay the Lebanese presidential
election into April, to ensure that Lebanon's seat would be
empty at the Arab League Summit in March. Neggary opined
that the USG must not "drop the stick" in favor of "the
carrot," but rather make both "clearly visible" to the
Syrians and Iran.
3. (C) Neggary assessed that French FM Kouchner was pushing
very hard "with the whole weight of France" on the Lebanese
opposition and the Syrians. Kouchner had sent a strongly
worded message to the Syrians (and had shared with the
Egyptians) which made clear the French were out of patience
and that while the message stopped short of accusing Syria of
direct culpability for the December 12 assassination of
Francois El Haj, the "spirit of the message" made clear that
France believed that Syrian activity in Lebanon was a major
factor.
Ricciardone
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE SY EG IR
SUBJECT: MFA ON LEBANON AND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION TO TEHRAN
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Jones
Reasons: 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) MFA Cabinet Advisor for Iran Mahmoud Afifi told us
December 17 that the December 11 visit of Assistant Minister
for Asian Affairs Hussein Derar was to reciprocate the
September 18 visit to Egypt of an Iranian delegation (led by
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs
Abbas Araqchi). Afifi, and MFA Cabinet Advisor for the
Levant Nazih el Neggary, downplayed the significance of the
visit, and stressed that the timing was related neither to
recent regional events (e.g. the situation in Lebanon),nor
the USG release of the National Intelligence Assessment on
Iran's nuclear program.
2. (C) Neggary said that the recent visit to Beirut of A/S
David Welch was useful in that it showed the Syrians the USG
remains serious, and supportive of the March 14 majority. He
said the Syrians, as well as the Iranians, may have
calculated they could push for additional conditions on
election of Michel Sleiman because of a perception that the
USG was "preoccupied" with the Annapolis Conference,
especially in getting Syria to attend. He had heard that the
Syrians, were hoping to delay the Lebanese presidential
election into April, to ensure that Lebanon's seat would be
empty at the Arab League Summit in March. Neggary opined
that the USG must not "drop the stick" in favor of "the
carrot," but rather make both "clearly visible" to the
Syrians and Iran.
3. (C) Neggary assessed that French FM Kouchner was pushing
very hard "with the whole weight of France" on the Lebanese
opposition and the Syrians. Kouchner had sent a strongly
worded message to the Syrians (and had shared with the
Egyptians) which made clear the French were out of patience
and that while the message stopped short of accusing Syria of
direct culpability for the December 12 assassination of
Francois El Haj, the "spirit of the message" made clear that
France believed that Syrian activity in Lebanon was a major
factor.
Ricciardone