AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH EGYPTIAN FREEDOM HOUSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001175 SIPDIS NSC STAFF FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KMPI KDEM EG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH EGYPTIAN FREEDOM HOUSE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REF: SECSTATE 42023 Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey for reason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) On June 2, the Ambassador met with nine Egyptian journalists and activists who recently returned to Egypt from the U.S. where they participated in Freedom House's New Generation of Advocates Fellowship program. Meeting participants included: Shaima Aboul Kheir (Journalist, Al Dustour newspaper) Amr Al Baky (Journalist, Akher Saa' magazine) Heba Bayoumi (Executive Director, Refugee Center for Human Rights) Bassem Al Sayed Baghot (Al Andalus Institute for Tolerance) Abdallah Helmy (Al Sadat Association for Social Development and Welfare) Dareen Abdelmagid (National Council for Human Rights) Mohamed Abdel Baki (Journalist, Akhbar al Youm newspaper) Mohamed Ali Allam (Journalist, Dream TV and Al Masr Al Youm newspaper) Mohamed Abdel Aziz Sayed (Anti-Corruption activist). ¶2. (C) The Fellows identified a number of obstacles to reform in Egypt. There was general agreement that the most pressing obstacle to reform is the lack of an alternative to the ruling National Democratic Party. The Fellows do not believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a viable alternative to the government and believe its popular support and influence is overstated. Several Fellows suggested that given the lack of an alternative in the current political system, international donors should support the creation of independent Egyptian think tanks which could develop alternatives to current government policies. ¶3. (C) Several Fellows spoke about the lack of grass roots political organization in Egypt. While acknowledging the importance of "Facebook" and other "new media" tools, the fellows saw the impact of those efforts as limited to Egypt's elite. They suggested the need for civil society to reach out to workers and others, especially outside of Cairo. One Fellow said there is too much donor money at the "top" of civil society and not enough going to the grassroots. Another Fellow emphasized the role local government could play in Egypt's reform process and urged continued support for decentralization efforts. ¶4. (C) Several Fellows also raised the issue of security service interference in their work, and, more generally, in Egyptian society. One Fellow cited security service interference in civil society activities outside of Cairo as a reason why activists have made little progress at the local level. Several said that U.S. pressure on the GoE could reduce security service interference in their work, but also suggested that private discussions with the GoE rather than public statements were the most effective tool. 5.(C) Comment: The Fellows spoke positively about their experience in the U.S. and the Freedom House program. They appear to be staying in contact with each other, and seem committed to and enthused about their work. We look forward to maintaining our contacts with them. SCOBEY