EGYPTIAN NPT PREPCOM POSITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000842

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

ISN/MNSA FOR FORD/DAVIS
GENEVA FOR KENNEDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2018
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR IS EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN NPT PREPCOM POSITIONS

REF: A. VIENNA 223

B. CAIRO 690

C. STATE 33661

D. APRIL 10 CAIRO-DEPARTMENT DVC

Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (b).


1. (C) Summary. MFA Disarmament Director Aly Sirry told us
April 22 that Egypt wants the April 28-May 9 Geneva
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) PrepCom proceedings to make
progress toward recognizing concerns regarding Israel's
nuclear program. Sirry said that Egypt would view such
progress as a step toward including these concerns in the
2010 NPT RevCon resolution. He suggested that one way to
make progress would be a PrepCom recommendation for the
RevCon to express these concerns. He said Egypt would be
"extremely disappointed" if the U.S. and the Europeans are
not flexible on recognizing such concerns at the PrepCom, but
was non-committal regarding what steps, if any, Egypt would
take in response. Sirry said that Egypt would not emphasize
the issue of "negative security assurances" at the PrepCom.
He said Egypt would support the NAM position that Zimbabwe
should chair the 2009 PrepCom. End summary.

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Arab Concerns Over Israel
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2. (C) MFA Disarmament Director Aly Sirry told us April 22
that Egypt wants the upcoming Geneva NPT PrepCom proceedings
to make progress toward NPT states recognizing Arab concerns
regarding Israel's nuclear program. He said that Egypt would
consider progress on this point to be an acceptable step
toward a renewed commitment to implementing the 1995 Middle
East Resolution. Acknowledging that consensus would be
difficult to achieve at the PrepCom, he nonetheless suggested
that one way to make progress would be agreement on a
recommendation for the 2010 NPT Review Conference to
recognize Arab concerns.


3. (C) Sirry said that Egypt believes agreement at the 2010
RevCon regarding Arab concerns should precede any concrete
proposals on how to implement the 1995 Middle East
Resolution. We responded that the U.S. believes the purpose
of the 2008 PrepCom is to air different views, and that the
2009 PrepCom would be the appropriate venue to make
recommendations for the 2010 RevCon. Sirry said that Egypt
is interested in going beyond an airing of different views at
the 2008 PrepCom, to moving toward recommendations for 2010.
He added that Egypt is concerned that the new U.S.
administration may not be prepared to take action on
recommendations at the 2009 PrepCom because the PrepCom will
closely follow the 2009 inauguration.


4. (C) Sirry said that Egypt will not request any
condemnation of Israel at the upcoming PrepCom, and he
described Egypt's request for recognition of Arab concerns as
"modest." He asked for U.S. flexibility on this point,
stressing that the PrepCom cannot be vocal on Iran, but
silent on Israel. We answered that Iranian pursuit of a
nuclear weapon imperils NPT universality. Sirry said that
Egypt had fought many wars with Israel. Egypt, he said, is
very concerned with Israel's nuclear program in light of
this. Sirry said that if there is no flexible response at
the PrepCom from the U.S. and the Europeans regarding Arab
concerns, Egypt will be "extremely disappointed." When asked
what steps Egypt might then take, he was non-committal,
saying he could not predict Egypt's response. However, Sirry
emphasized that Egypt's focus is on the 2010 RevCon and
suggested that Egypt would view developments at the upcoming
PrepCom in that vein, recognizing that there are still two
years until the RevCon.

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Other NPT PrepCom Issues
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5. (C) Sirry described "negative security assurances" as "an
old issue" that has had its "glory days." He said that
Egypt, as a NAM member, would address the issue at the
upcoming PrepCom, but would not emphasize it. Regarding the
issue of NPT withdrawal, Sirry said Egypt believes the most
effective way to prevent withdrawal is to strengthen the
treaty by responding to the concerns of all States party to

CAIRO 00000842 002 OF 002


the Treaty. On the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said
Egypt believes this right is subject to NPT constraints and
IAEA safeguards, but noted that it is important not to
over-regulate states that do not pose a security threat. He
explicitly excluded Iran from this category. Sirry said he
had just returned from a conference in Berlin on Reliable
Access to Nuclear Fuel (RANF); he said Egypt may refer to
RANF in Geneva, but believes the IAEA is the appropriate
venue for RANF discussions. Sirry reconfirmed that Egyptian
Ambassador in Geneva Sameh El-Shoukry would lead the GOE
PrepCom delegation, which would also consist of Egyptian DCM
in Vienna Motaz Khalil, UN New York Disarmament Director
Hossam Aly, and himself.

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Next PrepCom Chair
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6. (C) Sirry said that Egypt will support the NAM position
that Zimbabwe should chair the 2009 PrepCom. He said he had
heard the argument that the current Zimbabwe PermRep in New
York is not experienced, but stressed that the Chairmanship
goes to a country, not to an individual. Sirry said Egypt
would be well disposed to support the current Malaysian
PermRep in New York to be Chairman of the 2010 RevCon.

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Nonproliferation Talks in Washington
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7. (SBU) Sirry said he would pass forward our proposal (refs
C and D) for an Egyptian delegation to travel to Washington
for nonproliferation talks May 19 and 20.
SCOBEY