EGYPT'S DELEGATION TO THE OIC SUMMIT IN DAKAR,

UNCLAS CAIRO 000465 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR IO/UNP GOLDENBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC SG OIC KISL EG SUBJECT: EGYPT'S DELEGATION TO THE OIC SUMMIT IN DAKAR, MARCH 13-14 REF: SECSTATE 23596 ¶1. (U) Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirmed that Egypt will participate in the Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) Summit in Dakar from March 13-14. The Egyptian delegation's point of contact for meeting requests is Mohamed Hilal, Office of the Cabinet of the Foreign Minister. Mr. Hilal may be reached in Dakar at the following local cell phone number: 00 221 77 276 8776. We have provided contact information for the U.S. delegation to Mr. Hilal. ¶2. (U) In response to the request for a brief background paragraph on Egypt's involvement in the OIC, we suggest the following: Egypt is actively engaged in the OIC and maintains an accredited, permanent office to the OIC in Jeddah. At the Dakar summit, Egypt will present its proposal to host the next OIC summit, which will be held in 2011. If its proposal is accepted, Egypt will assume the presidency of the OIC in 2011, for a 3-year term. Egypt's focus in Dakar will include the ongoing revision of the OIC,s charter. Other issues Egypt traditionally focuses on in the OIC include legal mechanisms for addressing defamation of religion (a particularly sensitive issue this year, due to the ongoing Danish cartoon issue, and the impending release of a Dutch film allegedly offensive to Islam),the Arab-Israeli conflict, and issues of women and development. RICCIARDONE