FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO HOST REGIONAL "QUINTET"

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001862 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/P GORDON, NSC FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ EG SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER AGREES TO HOST REGIONAL "QUINTET" MEETING Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In an August 24 meeting with Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Ambassador raised the concept of a sub-ministerial strategic planning dialogue, to include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and the United States. She highlighted that the discussions would focus on long-term strategic issues of concern to all the participants, rather than a conversation about more immediate, pressing issues. ¶2. (C) Aboul Gheit welcomed the idea of such a five-party strategic dialogue, and readily agreed to the Ambassador's suggestion that Egypt host the first such "Quintet" meeting in Cairo in mid-October. ¶3. (C) We will report septel on the rest of the meeting. SCOBEY