MFA ON MULTILATERAL HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000598 SIPDIS IO/RHS FOR KESHAP AND OSTERMEIER NEA/ELA FOR SHAMPAINE, NEWHOUSE AND CANEDO GENEVA FOR CASSAYRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM UN SOCI EG SUBJECT: MFA ON MULTILATERAL HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES, "DEBAUCHERY" CASE REF: A. CAIRO 572 ¶B. CAIRO 484 ¶C. CAIRO 288 ¶D. CAIRO 219 Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor William R. Stewart for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. KEY POINTS -- (C) In an April 6 meeting with MFA Deputy Assistant Minister for Human Rights Wael Aboulmagd, we reiterated our request for Egyptian support for a U.S. seat on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),and emphasized that the U.S. wants to improve cooperation on multilateral human rights issues. -- (C) We again raised concerns over 10 men held in detention since January without charge on suspicion of homosexual "debauchery." -- (C) Aboulmagd welcomed increased U.S. engagement with the UNHRC, and urged the U.S. to engage on the Durban Review Conference draft document, asserting that the latest text addresses "substantive" U.S. concerns. On the freedom of expression resolution, the GOE's focus is on prohibiting "incitement." Aboulmagd predicted differences on multilateral human rights issues would continue. -- (C) Aboulmagd noted the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism (CT) would review the full range of issues during his April 17-21 visit to Egypt, but an NGO contact told us separately that due to MFA pressure the visit would only focus on Egypt's draft CT law. -- (C) Aboulmagd described homosexuality as the most difficult human rights issue to address in Egypt because of cultural biases, though he stressed that, technically, it's not illegal. -------------- UN Human Rights Council Candidacy -------------- ¶2. (C) We reiterated the U.S. decision to run for a seat on the council and asked for Egypt's support in the May vote (ref A). Aboulmagd welcomed the U.S. decision to seek a seat, and described increased U.S. engagement as "positive," although he acknowledged past bilateral differences over council issues. -------------- -------------- Durban Review and Freedom of Expression Resolution -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Aboulmagd encouraged U.S. flexibility on accepting the Durban Review Conference draft Outcome Document text authored by Egypt, Norway and Belgium, asserting that U.S. red-lines are "not conducive to multilateral diplomacy." He said that the authors had softened references to Israel, shortened the document, and provided flexibility on the issue of incitement. Therefore, Aboulmagd continued, it would be reasonable for the U.S. to decide to engage on the text. We noted that the U.S. is studying the text, and underscored that U.S. red-lines as articulated by the Department spokesman on February 27 remain firm. ¶4. (C) We pulsed Aboulmagd for potential GOE flexibility on the draft UN Human Rights Council freedom of expression resolution, specifically on language restricting free speech and "incitement." Aboulmagd deferred to MFA Deputy Director for Human Rights Omar Shalaby who said that Egypt wants to continue discussing the issues with Western governments, and that the GOE focus is on prohibiting "incitement." Following Shalaby's comment that recent discussions in Geneva touched on the possibility of Canada running the resolution in June, we asked for the GOE's position on such a scenario. Shalaby demurred, and said that the GOE is "open" to further discussions on the issue. ¶5. (C) We emphasized that the U.S. wants to improve cooperation with Egypt on multilateral human rights issues. Aboulmagd replied that the GOE agrees, but realizes that the issues are contentious and that differences will continue. "One set of issues should not define the bilateral relationship," Aboulmagd cautioned, also noting, "We resented CAIRO 00000598 002 OF 002 the previous administration's focus on democratization." Shalaby described consultations between the Egyptian and U.S. delegations in Geneva as being generally "cordial" and "positive." -------------- UN Special Rapporteur -------------- ¶6. (C) Aboulmagd confirmed that the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Martin Scheinin, plans to visit Egypt from April 17-21 (ref C). This will be the first visit of a UN special rapporteur to Egypt. Aboulmagd said Scheinin would meet with Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mufed Shehab to discuss Egypt's draft counter-terrorism law, and that additional meetings are planned with ruling National Democratic Party Secretary-General Safwat Sherif, Speaker of Parliament Fathi Surour, the public prosecutor, the (quasi-governmental) National Council for Human Rights, the Head of the Constitutional Court, and Justice and Interior Ministry assistant secretaries. Aboulmagd said Scheinin would meet with civil society and visit the UNDP police training project. According to Aboulmagd, Scheinin will review the full range of GOE policies and laws relating to counter-terrorism and human rights, and that the GOE is "open" to a follow-up visit later in 2009. ¶7. (C) Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights Director Hossam Bahgat told us separately that Special Rapporteur Scheinin had said privately in Geneva that because of MFA pressure, the visit's focus would be limited to Egypt's draft counter-terrorism law. According to Bahgat, Scheinin disclosed that he would offer not to issue a report on his April visit if the GOE would allow him to return later in ¶2009. However, Scheinen said he expected the GOE would refuse this offer, and that therefore he would report on the April visit. -------------- "Debauchery" Case -------------- ¶8. (C) We raised concerns again about the case of 10 men detained since early January who remain in custody on suspicion of homosexual "debauchery," without being charged (refs B and D). Aboulmagd responded that he would look into the case, and noted that Egyptian law does not criminalize homosexuality. He described the "debauchery" law used in the past to convict homosexuals as "legally ill-defined." Aboulmagd asserted that homosexuality is the most difficult human rights issue to address in Egypt because of cultural biases, and fears of "gay marriage promotion." SCOBEY