US embassy cable - 05CAIRO3952

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 003952 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EG, KDEM, KPAL, IS, IR, SU 
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, 
BORDER DEPLOYMENT, SUDAN, REFORM 
 
REF: UNDERRINER/MARTIN-HEGADORN MAY 24 E-MAIL EXCHANGES 
 
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) During a May 25 meeting with the Charge, Egyptian 
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed satisfaction 
with the respective visits of Prime Minister Nazif and First 
Lady Laura Bush.  The visits had, in his view, improved the 
atmosphere in the relationship.  Aboul Gheit warned against 
any USG flirtation with "moderate" Islamist elements, citing 
Iran's Islamic revolution as an example of the dangers 
inherent in a rise to power by Islamic fundamentalists.  On a 
potential Egyptian border guard deployment to the Gaza and 
Israeli borders, Aboul Gheit said that an agreement with 
Israel had not been reached, asserting that the ball was in 
Tel Aviv's court.  On Sudan, Aboul Gheit listed Egypt's 
contributions to the African Union's (AU) mission in Darfur, 
and complained that the AU was slow in taking up GOE offers. 
Egypt agreed that it was important to bring northern Sudanese 
opposition groups into the constitution-drafting process and 
would encourage them to reach agreement with Khartoum.  End 
summary. 
 
2.  (U) During the 40-minute meeting, the Foreign Minister 
was joined by Chief of Cabinet Sameh Shukry, Cabinet staff 
member responsible for American affairs Mohamed Aboulkheir, 
Deputy Assistant Minister for North American Affairs Atef 
Salem, and North American Affairs Office Director Ashraf 
Swelam.  Poloff (notetaker) accompanied the Charge. 
 
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Bilateral Relations Strong;  Nazif, FLOTUS Visits Helpful 
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3.  (C) The Foreign Minister characterized the recent visit 
of Prime Minister Nazif to the United States as "excellent." 
The visit served to remove much of the "soiled air" and bad 
feelings that the Foreign Minister felt had clouded his own 
visit to Washington in February - a visit he said had 
resulted in much "heated debate" in Cairo.  The Prime 
Minister's visit, he continued, contained a fair amount of 
"harsh debate," yet appeared to have put us "back on the same 
wave length."  Again referring to the acrimony he had felt 
during and after his own visit to the United States, Aboul 
Gheit said that he had delivered the same basic message to 
the USG regarding coming domestic reforms but had not been 
heard.  "Thank God," he added, that we are beyond this stage 
and can focus on our "truly strategic relationship." 
Similarly, the public comments made by First Lady Laura Bush 
during her recent visit, he said, were "very balanced" and 
"will be helpful." 
 
4.  (C) Referring to media speculation that Washington is 
considering opening or expanding ties to moderate Islamic 
forces in the Middle East, Aboul Gheit warned against 
policies that could lead to destabilization in Egypt.  A 
moderate, stable Egypt is in the interest of the United 
States, he stated.  Noting upcoming elections in Iran, Aboul 
Gheit added that Islamic fundamentalists once in power are 
nearly impossible to remove.  It is imperative, he added, 
that there be a separation between government and religion. 
Listing Islamist-inspired violent attacks on past and present 
Egyptian leaders, Aboul Gheit implored the U.S. and Europe to 
listen to and understand the Islamists, but not to encourage 
them in any way, or be perceived as encouraging them.  He 
agreed with the Charge's observation that we followed a 
careful policy in Egypt. 
 
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Egypt-Israel Border Guard Deployment Issue Drags On 
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5.  (C) Asked about his recent public statements on 
discussions with Israel over a prospective border guard 
deployment, Aboul Gheit clarified that he had confirmed to a 
reporter that Egypt was considering a total deployment of up 
to 2,250 troops along the entire Rafah-to-Taba border with 
Israel, including 750 specifically located along the Gaza 
border.  The talks with Israel, he explained, had not 
concluded and remained the purview of security officials from 
both sides.  The sticking point, he stated, remained the 
permanence of the Egyptian deployment and disagreement over 
an Israeli demand that the deployment be reviewed annually 
and potentially vetoed by Israel.  Once that deployment is 
made, he insisted, Egypt alone would be responsible for the 
decision to remove those troops.  Israeli Foreign Minister 
Shalom had raised the subject with him in their recent 
meeting on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Jordan, 
he said, but Aboul Gheit said he had replied that the ball 
was in Israel's court since Egypt's last written 
communication had not yet been answered.  For the time being, 
Aboul Gheit added, the issue is "not moving." 
 
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Sudan Issues 
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6.  (C) The Charge raised Sudan, noting Washington's 
continued interest in developments there and expressing 
appreciation for Egypt's efforts to assist with relief 
efforts in Darfur.  Responding, Aboul Gheit noted the May 24 
visit to Cairo of African Union President Konare and listed 
Egypt's specific contributions.  Furthermore, he said that 
those contributions were less than had been offered to the 
AU, which was sluggish in responding to the Egyptian offers. 
In addition to the one thousand Egyptian troops being 
prepared for final deployment to the UN's North-South 
monitoring mission, Egypt had offered 50 officers, Aboul 
Gheit noted, from which the AU had taken only 23.  Egypt had 
also offered 150 police officers, of which the AU had only 
taken 31; 100 military observers; and three staff officers to 
assist with troop movements and logistics, two of whom had 
been accepted by the AU.  Aboul Gheit complained that the AU 
was not responding, and was "slow to take up Egyptian 
offers."  Still, he added, Egypt stands prepared to assist in 
whatever way is requested in Sudan.  (Note:  Aboul Gheit 
instructed his staff in Arabic at this point to put together 
a paper listing Egyptian contributions and offers of 
assistance to the African Union to share with Members of 
Congress in Washington.  End note.) 
 
7.  (C) The Charge asked Egypt to encourage prominent 
Sudanese northern opposition figures Mohamed Mirghani and 
Sadiq al Mahdi and their respective organizations to 
participate in ongoing debate over the drafting of a new 
Sudanese constitution, as planned for in the Comprehensive 
Peace Agreement (ref e-mail exchange).  Aboul Gheit said that 
during a meeting the previous week with Mirghani, the 
Sudanese opposition figure said that he was eager to meet 
with GOS negotiators to complete a deal between the National 
Democratic Alliance (NDA, also headed by Mirghani) and the 
government.  The Foreign Minister said that the delay in 
reaching a deal had to do with difficulties between Mirhgani 
and Dr. Garang as well as pressure from Eritrea on the NDA, 
but that the two sides might meet in Cairo May 29 to reach an 
agreement.  In any case, Aboul Gheit said, he had passed the 
information to Egyptian Intelligence Chief Soliman, who had 
the lead on the Sudan file. 
 
8.  (U) Khartoum minimize considered. 
 
 
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GRAY