CHAD: EGYPTIAN LEADERS SAY CHAD, SUDAN EQUALLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000234 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF CH EG SU SUBJECT: CHAD: EGYPTIAN LEADERS SAY CHAD, SUDAN EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE REF: A. SECSTATE 12030 ¶B. CAIRO 204 ¶C. SECSTATE 10951 Classified by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs David Welch delivered ref A demarche separately to Egyptian General Intelligence Service (EGIS) Director Omar Soliman, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and Defense Minister Field Marshall Tantawi on February 7, asking them to encourage the Sudanese government to cease its support for Chadian rebels. Soliman replied that Egypt supports a cease-fire in Chad and that the rebels should return to the border region with Sudan, but noted that the Chadian government is equally responsible for the crisis due to its support for Darfur rebel groups against Khartoum. Khartoum merely took advantage of an opportunity, he said, but acknowledged that "this is not helpful" and that Egypt advocates a return to the status quo. Aboul Gheit and Tantawi reiterated Soliman's message, with Tantawi stressing the direct impact that solving the situation in Darfur would have on Chad. RICCIARDONE