EGYPTIAN PLANS FOR MARCH 3-4 ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000559

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG PINR EG IZ SU IR LE XF IS
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN PLANS FOR MARCH 3-4 ARAB LEAGUE FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING IN CAIRO

REF: SECSTATE 24372

Classified By: Classified by Acting DCM William R. Stewart
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: MFA Deputy Assistant Minister for Arab
Affairs Hani Khallaf says that Egypt will take a cautious
approach towards the Palestinian National Unity Government at
the upcoming Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting and
withhold final judgment until after the NUG is formed. Egypt
will attend the March 10 sub-ministerial Neighbors Conference
in Baghdad only if Iraq accepts its invitation to a follow-on
ministerial in Cairo. Khallaf was non-committal on
pressuring Iran on its nuclear program, blaming Israeli
"unhelpfulness" for lack of progress on the nuclear issue.
Regarding Sudan, Khallaf said that President Bashir was ready
to accept a hybrid UN/AU peacekeeping force for Darfur, once
outstanding issues of financing and troop commitments are
resolved. Khallaf said Egypt would encourage Syria to accept
a compromise settlement in Lebanon that does not jeopardize
the Hariri Tribunal. End summary.


2. (C) On March 1, 2007, Acting DCM William R. Stewart
delivered ref demarche points to MFA Deputy Assistant
Minister for Arab Affairs Hani Khallaf. Khallaf said that
the Arab League is attempting to keep the March 3-4 meeting
as "routine as possible," leaving the specifics -- "and the
confrontations" -- for the March 28-29 summit in Riyadh.
Khallaf responded to specific points as follows:

(a) Israeli-Palestinian situation

Khallaf said he understood the U.S. position and that Egypt
will advocate a cautious approach towards the Palestinian
National Unity Government, and stress the need to reserve
final judgment until after it is formed.

(b) Iraq

Khallaf said that Egypt is committed, in principle, to attend
the March 10 sub-ministerial Neighbors Conference in Baghdad.
However, he said that Egypt's formal acceptance depends on
Iraq's agreement that it will be a purely preparatory
gathering in advance of a follow-on ministerial meeting --
that Iraq will attend -- in Cairo. Khallaf also stressed
that Egypt has great concerns about the security situation in
Iraq. "I hope we will not have to stay there more than three
hours." If Egypt does attend, he will likely lead a small
GoE delegation.

(c) Iran

Khallaf said it would be difficult for Egypt to take action
under Chapter VII of UNSCR 1737, noting that opposing Iran on
the nuclear issue was not possible without "positive"
statements from the Israelis. Israel's "unhelpful" comments,
he said, make it difficult for those in the region to take a
tough stance against Iran, or to advocate for a Middle East
Nuclear Free Zone. He speculated that the GCC might see this
issue differently, although "Egypt stands to lose more than
anyone" by nuclear escalation in the region.

(d) Sudan

Khallaf said that Sudanese president Bashir is ready to
support a hybrid UN/AU peace-keeping operation in Darfur, but
only after funding and troop commitment details are ironed
out.

(e) Lebanon

According to Khallaf, Egypt will press forQb League
language that will encourage the Syrians and others to seek a
compromise political solution that will not compromise the
Hariri Tribunal.


3. (C) On February 28, poloff delivered ref demarche to a
senior Arab League advisor, who had no substantive response
but promised to deliver the points to Arab League Secretary
General Amre Moussa that evening.


4. (SBU) Bio note: Khallaf's father was a university
professor in Sulaymaniah, Iraq, during the 1940's, who
apparently taught many of the current generation of Iraqi
political leaders, including perhaps Adnan Pachachi. End bio
note.


5. (U) Tripoli minimize considered.
RICCIARDONE