EGYPT: NO POSITION YET ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001920

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ELA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2028
TAGS: PREL PGOV EG GG RU
SUBJECT: EGYPT: NO POSITION YET ON RUSSIAN RECOGNITION OF
SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES

REF: STATE 91894

Classified By: ECPO Minister Counselor William R. Stewart
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On August 28, ECPO Minister Counselor, together with
British and Japanese DCMs (who had received nearly identical
instructions),delivered reftel demarche to MFA spokesman and
senior cabinet advisor Hossam Zaki. A very sober Zaki
listened attentively. He said that Egypt took all issues of
territorial integrity very seriously. He said that Egypt had
hoped for a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the situation
in Georgia, and that the latest events (Russian recognition
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia) had come as a "surprise." He
offered that Egypt was studying the situation very carefully,
but had not yet decided on its position.


2. (C) The British DCM noted the importance for the
international community to act quickly and not allow the
Russian action to harden, stressing Egypt's weight and
influence in the region and beyond. Zaki said Egypt was well
aware of that, but that in such a complex and "fluid"
situation, it was important to make the right decision after
careful analysis. Mincouns reminded Zaki of Egypt's earlier
stated "principle" of supporting territorial integrity, and
how Egypt had not supported Kosovo independence on that
basis. Zaki took all on board, and noted the impact the
joint demarche would have on Egypt's decision-making process,
but reiterated that Egypt had still not decided on its
position vis a vis Russia in Georgia.
SCOBEY