Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PARIS2140
2008-11-21 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

EGYPT GRIPING TO FRENCH ABOUT SOMALIA ANTI-PIRACY

Tags:  PREL MOPS SO FR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6519
OO RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHFR #2140 3261042
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211042Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4905
INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 1225
RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 0223
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1637
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY 2446
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002140 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2008
TAGS: PREL MOPS SO FR
SUBJECT: EGYPT GRIPING TO FRENCH ABOUT SOMALIA ANTI-PIRACY
MISSION

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young, Reasons 1.4b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002140

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2008
TAGS: PREL MOPS SO FR
SUBJECT: EGYPT GRIPING TO FRENCH ABOUT SOMALIA ANTI-PIRACY
MISSION

Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Young, Reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) Egypt has been pressing French authorities about the
geographic scope of EU anti-piracy operations, according to
both the French MFA and the Egyptian Embassy. AF
DAS-Equivalent Helene Le Gal complained November 18 to Africa
Watcher about Egypt,s unhelpful stance and noted that Yemen,
too, had now voiced unease about EU naval patrols. Egypt
should be thanking the EU, not criticizing it, since without
a robust anti-piracy effort the shipping industry would
likely adopt alternate routes that avoid the Suez Canal,
thereby reducing Egyptian revenues. Le Gal explained that
Egypt opposed EU naval operations in the Red Sea, rolling her
eyes at allegations that the EU mission had a &Zionist8
agenda to internationalize that body of water.


2. (C) Egyptian Second Secretary Tarek Tayel, who contacted
Africa Watcher independently on the same subject on November
19, confirmed his government's concerns. He explained that
Cairo knew full well "from a professional perspective" that
there was no Israeli or other linkage; however, he admitted
there had been a few irrational accusations in the popular
press. EU operations in the Red Sea were an infringement on
the sovereignty of countries in the region, he argued;
moreover, piracy occured primarily off the Somali coast in
the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Any Red Sea spillover
was minimal, he insisted, and within the region's own
capacity to control. Tayel said that the EU reach into the
Red Sea was excessive, extending to the Eritrean border with
Sudan. He conceded he did not know if there were active EU
patrols there. (Note: MFA Somalia Desk Officer Thierry
Caboche explained November 20 that the EU needed latitude to
operate in the Red Sea for purposes of hot pursuit and in
order to escort key shipping vessels, as and if necessary.
End note.)


3. (C) Tayel said Egypt had so far limited itself to
bilateral protests, noting that France, in addition to its
current role as EU president, had been the driving force
behind the EU anti-piracy mission. Egypt now sought to
coordinate a common position within the region, and was
convening a senior-level meeting November 20 in Cairo.
(Yemen was to co-host, according to Caboche.)


4. (C) Comment: Our MFA contacts make no effort to conceal
their irritation, viewing the Egyptian position as irrational
and contrary to economic interests. We leave to Embassy
Cairo to assess the seriousness of the Egyptian protest but
wonder whether Cairo's reaction is only reflexive posturing
of its Red Sea "primacy" and a bid for EU attention.
STAPLETON