DEFMIN TANTAWI WARNS THAT CONDITIONING FMF WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000085 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018 TAGS: PREL MASS PTER KPAL IR IZ IS EG SUBJECT: DEFMIN TANTAWI WARNS THAT CONDITIONING FMF WILL HARM RELATIONS Classified By: DCM Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On December 31, 2007, Minister of Defense Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi told the Ambassador and visiting CODEL Voinovich that conditioning U.S. military assistance to Egypt would harm bilateral relations, and would not be understood by members of military or the average Egyptian. Egypt has been committed to peace with Israel for 28 years, yet Israel seems bent on harming not only its relationship with Egypt, but Egypt's relationship with the United States. Senator Voinovich expressed his hope that Secretary Rice will waive conditions on Egypt's FMF, allowing U.S. military assistance to Egypt to be fully funded. End summary. -------------- Conditioning Military Assistance -------------- ¶2. (C) During their hour-long meeting on December 31, DefMin Tantawi told the Ambassador and visiting CODEL Voinovich (Senator Voinovich, R-OH; Rep. Turner, R-OH; Rep. Pearce, R-NM; Rep. Bishop, R-UT; Rep. Gingrey, R-GA) that conditioning Egypt's FMF assistance will harm bilateral relations and would be rejected not only by Egypt's military members, but by all Egyptians. "This (conditioning) is bad for U.S.-Egyptian relations." The average Egyptian sees such conditioning of military aid as U.S. interference in Egypt's internal affairs, Tantawi said. ¶3. (C) Senator Voinovich said that he understood Tantawi's concern, and stressed that the conditioning can be waived by the Secretary of State; "I hope this can be worked out." Unfortunately, Voinovich said, there are certain members of Congress who do not consider all the ramifications of the U.S.-Egypt relationship. "They don't see the big picture." Turning to the issue of tunneling and smuggling under Egypt's border with Gaza, Voinovich opined that "the sooner we solve that problem, the better for our relationship." -------------- "Not About Money" -------------- ¶4. (C) Tantawi stressed that "the issue is not about money." The issue is about shared strategic interests, he said. Egypt has been committed to peace with Israel for 28 years. Egypt has obeyed the peace treaty consistently and to the letter, he added, "but Israel breaks it every day." Egypt understands that the United States and Israel have a special relationship. "We know your relations with Israel are very important, but that should not affect your relationship with us." We have shared important interests in this region, Tantawi said. We are committed to having good relations with both the U.S. and Israel, but "every time Israel goes to Congress in Washington it accuses Egypt" and tries to harm relations with the U.S. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶5. (C) Turning to Iraq, Senator Voinovich asked if the U.S. should withdraw its troops. "You must do it in stages," Tantawi replied. "Not all at once." America must be prepared to stay in Iraq, "perhaps for a long time." -------------- Iran -------------- ¶6. (C) On Iran, Tantawi said that Egypt "rejects completely" the expansion of Iranian influence in the region. "We see this (Iranian influence) as a direct threat to Egyptian national security." However, Tantawi added, we believe that differences with Iran must be solved "peacefully, and not militarily." We must do all we can to curb Iranian expansion wherever it occurs, whether in Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon. "We hope to see the entire Middle East as a WMD-free zone." ¶7. (C) Senator Voinovich asked if the Saudis saw Iran in the same way, and if they communicated their concerns directly to the Iranians. Tantawi said that the Saudis try to be helpful. "We and the Saudis are close," he said. "We share views and have the same attitudes." ¶8. (U) CODEL Voinovich did not clear this message. Ricciardone