Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COPENHAGEN488
2009-11-02 14:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
(C) EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHCP #0488 3061422 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021422Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5284 INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0041 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0810 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1313 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0279
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000488
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, SCA/PB, EUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: (C) EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000488
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, SCA/PB, EUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: (C) EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Having recently hosted the Israeli
Ambassador in response to the latter's request for a meeting,
Ambassador Fulton invited Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Habashi
to lunch October 29. They discussed one-on-one the Middle
East and the Danish cartoon controversy. The Egyptian MFA
has instructed Ambassador Habashi to seek additional security
for himself and his embassy. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MEPP: Ambassador Habashi (protect throughout)
stressed that only the USG can pressure Israel to make the
concessions needed to advance Middle East Peace. He said
there is concern in his capital that the Administration is
"losing steam" on the issue. He wondered about the role of
Special Envoys in U.S. foreign policy. He predicted that
progress on the MEPP will not be possible with Benjamin
Netanyahu as Israeli Prime Minister. (NOTE: Amb. Habashi
said that Egypt does not like to refer to the "Peace Process"
because "process" indicates there is no result contemplated
quickly and Israel uses it to continue to delay. END NOTE.)
3. (C) Discussing recent headlines in Danish newspapers
regarding arrests and indictment of two persons in Chicago,
Habashi discussed the recurring Danish cartoon controversy.
He explained that his predecessor at the time of the initial
crisis, a woman, was deeply involved in coordinating the
Muslim response in Copenhagen. Her successor, also a woman,
fell ill and it took a year and a half to replace her (with
him, a Copt). When the offending cartoons were republished
last year in Denmark, Egypt chose not to react. Since his
arrival three months ago, the cartoons have been republished
again. Cairo has affirmed his decision to ignore them
despite pressure from the Pakistani ambassador, who
approached MFA as chair of the OIC, said republication of
these cartoons must cease. When MFA sought to determine from
Amb. Habashi whether this was also Egypt's position, he made
clear that she did not speak for Egypt.
4. (C) As part of the discussion of newspapers articles
about the Chicago indictment, Habashi questioned the timing
of Denmark's press remarks and whether it was an indication
of increased threats during COP-15. (The Ambassador
indicated that based upon the news stories, the Danish press
seemed to have resulted from announcement of the indictments
in the U.S.) Habashi confided that his ministry recently
instructed him to request additional security for himself and
his embassy; he did not explain why.
FULTON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, SCA/PB, EUR/NB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: (C) EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR COMES CALLING
Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Having recently hosted the Israeli
Ambassador in response to the latter's request for a meeting,
Ambassador Fulton invited Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Habashi
to lunch October 29. They discussed one-on-one the Middle
East and the Danish cartoon controversy. The Egyptian MFA
has instructed Ambassador Habashi to seek additional security
for himself and his embassy. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) MEPP: Ambassador Habashi (protect throughout)
stressed that only the USG can pressure Israel to make the
concessions needed to advance Middle East Peace. He said
there is concern in his capital that the Administration is
"losing steam" on the issue. He wondered about the role of
Special Envoys in U.S. foreign policy. He predicted that
progress on the MEPP will not be possible with Benjamin
Netanyahu as Israeli Prime Minister. (NOTE: Amb. Habashi
said that Egypt does not like to refer to the "Peace Process"
because "process" indicates there is no result contemplated
quickly and Israel uses it to continue to delay. END NOTE.)
3. (C) Discussing recent headlines in Danish newspapers
regarding arrests and indictment of two persons in Chicago,
Habashi discussed the recurring Danish cartoon controversy.
He explained that his predecessor at the time of the initial
crisis, a woman, was deeply involved in coordinating the
Muslim response in Copenhagen. Her successor, also a woman,
fell ill and it took a year and a half to replace her (with
him, a Copt). When the offending cartoons were republished
last year in Denmark, Egypt chose not to react. Since his
arrival three months ago, the cartoons have been republished
again. Cairo has affirmed his decision to ignore them
despite pressure from the Pakistani ambassador, who
approached MFA as chair of the OIC, said republication of
these cartoons must cease. When MFA sought to determine from
Amb. Habashi whether this was also Egypt's position, he made
clear that she did not speak for Egypt.
4. (C) As part of the discussion of newspapers articles
about the Chicago indictment, Habashi questioned the timing
of Denmark's press remarks and whether it was an indication
of increased threats during COP-15. (The Ambassador
indicated that based upon the news stories, the Danish press
seemed to have resulted from announcement of the indictments
in the U.S.) Habashi confided that his ministry recently
instructed him to request additional security for himself and
his embassy; he did not explain why.
FULTON