KUDOS ON BREAKING ASSISTANCE IMPASSE WITH EGYPT

UNCLAS STATE 052771 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID EG SUBJECT: KUDOS ON BREAKING ASSISTANCE IMPASSE WITH EGYPT REF: A. CAIRO 349 B. CAIRO 353 C. CAIRO 613 ¶1. (U) The Department greatly appreciates Embassy Cairo's effective advocacy that successfully ended a standoff with Egypt over FY 2009 Economic Support Funds (ESF). We especially thank Ambassador Margaret Scobey and USAID Mission Director Bambi Arellano for their personal involvement in breaking the impasse. ¶2. (U) After laying the groundwork to educate Washington on the problem, your continuous engagement with the Egyptians allowed you to identify signals of an opening from the Government of Egypt (GOE) in February 2009. Your recommendations to Washington about the elements and approach of a comprehensive offer to the GOE reflected an exceptionally accurate assessment of what would be needed to reach resolution. Whether via e-mail, telephone, or cable, you ensured Washington understood the strategic implications as well as the detailed rationale behind each element of the offer. Every member of the team in Cairo ensured responsiveness to follow-up requests and enabled Washington to pull together as a team to act on your recommendations. Displaying deft negotiating skill, you worked within U.S. budgetary constraints to present the GOE with creative ideas to meet their needs. ¶3. (U) Your tireless effort has eliminated a serious point of contention with a major moderate, Arab partner in a strategically important region. Congratulations on a job well done. CLINTON