Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
93ALEXANDRIA24
1993-01-13 13:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Alexandria
Cable title:
EGYPT-LIBYA: LIBYA REOPENS THE BORDER
how-toO 131350Z JAN 93 FM AMCONSUL ALEXANDRIA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0300 INFO DIA WASHDC AMEMBASSY ALGIERS AMEMBASSY TUNIS AMEMBASSY CAIRO SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ALEXANDRIA 000024
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIBSANC
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD UNSC LY EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT-LIBYA: LIBYA REOPENS THE BORDER
REF: (A) ALEXANDRIA 22 (B) FBIS NC0901165293
UNCLAS ALEXANDRIA 000024
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIBSANC
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD UNSC LY EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT-LIBYA: LIBYA REOPENS THE BORDER
REF: (A) ALEXANDRIA 22 (B) FBIS NC0901165293
1. OFFICIALS OF THE MERSA MATROUH GOVERNORATE HAVE
CONFIRMED LOCAL PRESS REPORTS THAT THE SALLOUM BORDER
CROSSING WAS REOPENED BY LIBYAN AUTHORITIES EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12. LIBYA HAD CLOSED ITS LAND
BORDERS FOR A THREE-DAY PERIOD TO PROTEST THE
U.N.-IMPOSED SANCTIONS (COMMENT: THERE ARE A FEW RUMORS
HERE, PROBABLY GROUNDLESS, THAT THE GOL CLOSED THE
BORDERS WHILE SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN THE CA
ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED THE GOL JUSTICE MINISTER. END
COMMENT). OVER 150 VEHICLES HAVE REPORTEDLY CROSSED AT
SALLOUM SINCE THE BORDER WAS REOPENED. THE GOVERNOR 0
MERSA MATROUH HAS BEEN AT THE BORDER OVERSEEING THE
COMMITMENT OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES
TO HANDLE A HEAVY TRAFFIC BACKLOG.
2. NOT A FEW EGYPTIANS WERE INCONVENIENCED AND ANGERE
BY LIBYAS ACTIONS. AS ONE EXAMPLE, EXPATRIATE TEACHE
WORKING IN LIBYA LOST THREE DAYS OF THEIR MID-TERM
HOLIDAY WHEN THEY WERE STRANDED. THE PRESS REPORTS TH
LOSSES TO EGYPTIAN BUSINESSES FROM THE EMBARGO TOTALLE
20 MILLION L.E. (ABOUT USD 600,000),INCLUDING MUCH
SPOILED PRODUCE. COMMENT: WHILE THIS SEEMS HIGH TO US
WE DO NOTE PRIOR REPORTS (REF A) OF THE MAGNITUDE OF T
TRAFFIC BACKLOG AND THAT MERCHANTS DELAYED AT SALLOUM
WERE SELLING THEIR PRODUCE AT VERY REDUCED PRICES.
WHATEVER THE DAMAGES, THE GOL WON NO FRIENDS HERE WITH
ITS EMBARGO AND, IN FACT, PROBABLY LEFT LIBYAS OWN
BUSINESS COMMUNITY HURT AND ANGRY. OUR LOCAL CONTACTS
FLATLY CALL THE EMBARGO ECONOMIC "SUICIDE" FOR LIBYA.
SCHELL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIBSANC
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD UNSC LY EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT-LIBYA: LIBYA REOPENS THE BORDER
REF: (A) ALEXANDRIA 22 (B) FBIS NC0901165293
1. OFFICIALS OF THE MERSA MATROUH GOVERNORATE HAVE
CONFIRMED LOCAL PRESS REPORTS THAT THE SALLOUM BORDER
CROSSING WAS REOPENED BY LIBYAN AUTHORITIES EARLY
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 12. LIBYA HAD CLOSED ITS LAND
BORDERS FOR A THREE-DAY PERIOD TO PROTEST THE
U.N.-IMPOSED SANCTIONS (COMMENT: THERE ARE A FEW RUMORS
HERE, PROBABLY GROUNDLESS, THAT THE GOL CLOSED THE
BORDERS WHILE SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN THE CA
ACCIDENT WHICH KILLED THE GOL JUSTICE MINISTER. END
COMMENT). OVER 150 VEHICLES HAVE REPORTEDLY CROSSED AT
SALLOUM SINCE THE BORDER WAS REOPENED. THE GOVERNOR 0
MERSA MATROUH HAS BEEN AT THE BORDER OVERSEEING THE
COMMITMENT OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES
TO HANDLE A HEAVY TRAFFIC BACKLOG.
2. NOT A FEW EGYPTIANS WERE INCONVENIENCED AND ANGERE
BY LIBYAS ACTIONS. AS ONE EXAMPLE, EXPATRIATE TEACHE
WORKING IN LIBYA LOST THREE DAYS OF THEIR MID-TERM
HOLIDAY WHEN THEY WERE STRANDED. THE PRESS REPORTS TH
LOSSES TO EGYPTIAN BUSINESSES FROM THE EMBARGO TOTALLE
20 MILLION L.E. (ABOUT USD 600,000),INCLUDING MUCH
SPOILED PRODUCE. COMMENT: WHILE THIS SEEMS HIGH TO US
WE DO NOTE PRIOR REPORTS (REF A) OF THE MAGNITUDE OF T
TRAFFIC BACKLOG AND THAT MERCHANTS DELAYED AT SALLOUM
WERE SELLING THEIR PRODUCE AT VERY REDUCED PRICES.
WHATEVER THE DAMAGES, THE GOL WON NO FRIENDS HERE WITH
ITS EMBARGO AND, IN FACT, PROBABLY LEFT LIBYAS OWN
BUSINESS COMMUNITY HURT AND ANGRY. OUR LOCAL CONTACTS
FLATLY CALL THE EMBARGO ECONOMIC "SUICIDE" FOR LIBYA.
SCHELL