RESPONSE TO MEETING REQUEST WITH EGYPTIANS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002020 SIPDIS ISN FOR JODY DANIEL, ARIEL STUKALIN AND SCOTT DAVIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: AORC PARM PREL KNNP IAEA EG IS SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO MEETING REQUEST WITH EGYPTIANS ON NPT/IAEA MIDDLE EAST ISSUES REF: STATE 94763 Classified By: Political Counselor Marc Sievers, reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Per reftel, polmiloff on September 14 raised with MFA Director for Arms Control Rodica Radian-Gordon the possibility of meeting with Egyptian officials shortly following the IAEA General Conference (GC) in order to initiate discussion on advancing a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction. Polmiloff also shared -- but did not leave a copy of -- the non-paper on the 1995 NPT Resolution with Radian-Gordon upon her request. Radian-Gordon appreciated the opportunity to review the non-paper, and caveated her initial, skeptical comments by suggesting the GOI will consider the non-paper in greater detail. She said the GOI will be very interested in meeting with the U.S. bilaterally prior to any discussion with the Egyptians. End summary. ¶2. (C) Radian-Gordon cited several general concerns with the proposed meeting with the Egyptians, including especially that the GOI is not a party to the NPT, and therefore will not participate in the NPT Review Conference in 2010. She said that the GOI cannot understand why "Israel must pay the token" in order for the NPT to succeed, and therefore feels generally uncomfortable and reluctant to discuss any effort under the NPT framework, such as the reftel non-paper. ¶3. (C) That said, Radian-Gordon noted that the GOI already responded favorably to the idea raised in para 3 of the non-paper regarding a forum to share experiences on previously created nuclear weapon-free zones (NWFZs). She said the idea of a forum had been initially raised in 2004, and would be very useful from the Israeli perspective. However, she stressed that such a discussion should be used as "a means for learning," and not as an opportunity to negotiate with the Egyptians and others. ¶4. (C) Radian-Gordon said the GOI looks forward to talking further with us bilaterally prior to any discussion with the Egyptians. She closed with two specific comments that the GOI continues to reiterate with regard to the idea of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction. First, she said the GOI strongly believes that there is no possible way to pursue a NWFZ in the Middle East without first achieving the establishment of peaceful relations with Israel's neighbors bolstered by confidence and security building measures. Second, Radian-Gordon said the non-paper made no specific mention of Iran. While she personally understood the political sensitivities involved, she said the GOI would find it impossible to talk about the NPT without mentioning NPT States Parties -- namely Iran -- which have signed up to the Treaty, but continue to flagrantly violate their obligations. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM