GOE DENIES REGISTRATION FOR INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000724 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC STAFF FOR WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM EG SUBJECT: GOE DENIES REGISTRATION FOR INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE; STATUS OF NDI AND IFES IN DOUBT Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOE has adopted a new harder line against the registrations of the International Republican Institute (IRI),National Democratic Institute (NDI),and IFES, the USAID-funded political parties institutes whose registration applications have been frozen by the GOE since June 2006. In a series of confusing, and sometimes contradictory, statements to the Ambassador, DCM, and visiting NEA DAS Scott Carpenter over the past week, senior GOE officials have indicated that they want the institutes to leave. The GOE officials have stopped short of formally expelling the institutes, but have said that "any activities" by the organizations in Egypt are now "unacceptable." End summary. ¶2. (C) In a March 11 meeting with visiting NEA DAS Scott Carpenter and the DCM, Assistant Foreign Minister for North American Affairs, Hatem Seif El-Nasr, said that the GOE now feels that the institutes "serve no useful purpose." When pushed by Carpenter, El-Nasr made clear that the GOE hoped the USG would remove the institutes, stopped short of an instruction or a threat to close them. He did say, however, that "any activities (by the institutes) without (GoE) certification is unacceptable to us." El-Nasr further noted that Parliamentarians and other unnamed critics of the MFA have accused the MFA of "being naive" when it had briefed Parliament that the institutes were not engaged in substantive work while they awaited their registration approvals. El-Nasr concluded that "since we have reached this point, it's best that we don't let the institutes reach a position where they get in more trouble." El-Nasr noted that the MFA was aware that NDI president was planning to visit Egypt March 18-19 to discuss NDI's case with the GOE, but muttered "good luck" under his breath when told the NDI president had requested a meeting with the Foreign Minister. At the conclusion of the meeting, El-Nasr's deputy, Mohamed Aboul Dahab, walked Carpenter to his vehicle, and offered his personal opinion that despite El-Nasr's pessimism, the NDI president should seek a meeting with EGIS chief Omar Soliman. Aboul Dahab opined that Soliman is the GOE official best positioned to effect a positive outcome on the registration issue. ¶3. (C) On March 13, Ashraf Swelam, a senior staffer to FM Aboul Gheit, told the DCM that the GOE had denied the registration application of IRI. Swelam said that because IRI "has no legal status" it must not employ personnel, rent property, or otherwise conduct any business in Egypt. Asked if this decision applied to NDI as well, Ashraf replied that he only had talking points for IRI. ¶4. (C) In a separate conversation with the Ambassador on March 13, FM Aboul Gheit told the Ambassador that "no one" in the GOE would meet with the NDI president if he visited Egypt prior to the conclusion of Egypt's constitutional amendment process. (The constitutional amendments are expected to be subjected to a national referendum on/about April 4.) The FM recommended that the NDI president postpone his visit to Egypt until May. (Note: The Ambassador shared the FM's comments with NDI on March 13 and NDI has postponed the visit. End note.) ¶5. (C) Comment: Notwithstanding confusing and contradictory elements in the recent statements by MFA officials on the matter of the registrations of the institutes, it seems clear that the GOE has decided to adopt a tough new posture. Prior to the June 2006 freeze on activities, the institutes had operated openly, albeit with a minimal media presence, with the tacit approval of the GOE, while awaiting a formal decision on the registrations. After the June 2006 freeze, prompted in large measure by an IRI media event, the institutes dramatically scaled back their operations, but continued to build contacts with Egyptian civil society and otherwise position themselves for the re-launch of regular operations. MFA officials regularly assured the institutes, and the Embassy, that the registrations would be approved "soon." The most recent statements by the Egyptians suggest that GOE has now decided to drop the pretense that approvals are forthcoming, and take steps just short of outright expulsion to further curtail the work of the institutes. RICCIARDONE