US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4059

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004059 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KWBG, KPAL, KDEM, IS, EG, Visits 
SUBJECT: PDAS CHENEY CHALLENGES ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY 
GENERAL'S INSISTENCE ON "PALESTINE FIRST" 
 
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  In a May 24 meeting with Arab League 
Secretary General Amre Moussa, NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney 
 
SIPDIS 
pressed the Arab League to demonstrate its commitment to real 
political reform among its member states, and to support Gaza 
disengagement.  Moussa insisted that the Arab League is 
committed to pushing political reform--including in 
cooperation with the USG--but also reiterated his familiar 
position that political reform in the region will not be 
possible without a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue. 
Cheney assured Moussa of the USG's commitment to resolving 
the conflict, and pressed him to encourage the Arab League to 
avoid using the Israel-Palestine conflict as an excuse to 
avoid reform.  End summary. 
 
2.  (C)  In response to an invitation from Moussa, PDAS 
Cheney, accompanied by the Charge and poloff (notetaker), met 
with Moussa on the evening of May 24.  (Moussa's chief of 
staff Hisham Youssef, and his press spokesman, Hossam Zaki, 
also joined the meeting.)  Moussa opened with his familiar 
refrain that the road to reform in the Arab world lies 
through Palestine.  Returning to a theme he had publicly 
stated at the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan, 
Moussa insisted that there could be "no Arab Spring without a 
solution to the Palestinian issue."  According to Moussa, 
"any reasonable peace will do."  He noted that in a recent 
interview with the Jerusalem Post he had clearly stated the 
Arab League's commitment to its 2002 Beirut Declaration, 
which committed the Arab League to "turning the page and 
considering the conflict ended." 
 
3.  (C)  In response, PDAS Cheney noted that there had been 
much talk about the peace process for many years, including 
by Arab governments who have sometimes used the issue to 
deflect attention from the need for reform in their own 
countries.  At the same time, these governments have often 
not lived up to their commitments to provide financial 
support for the Palestinian people, for example.  She 
suggested Moussa should do more than talk about the 
importance of peace.  Specifically, she urged Moussa to 
support actions currently underway -- most importantly, Gaza 
disengagement, necessary for progress on the Roadmap.  Moussa 
argued that the USG must play an "honest broker" role 
regarding the "litmus test" of Israeli settlements.  Moussa 
said that Arab League members are troubled that Israel may 
move Gaza settlers to other settlements in the West Bank. 
PDAS Cheney responded that the Secretary General, given his 
unique position in the region, also had a responsibility to 
be "an honest broker."  She suggested that Arab League 
support for Gaza disengagement would be an important "litmus 
test" in this regard. 
 
4.  (C)  Moussa asserted that Arab League members have "two 
number-one priorities:  reform and progress on the 
Palestinian question."  As evidence of the Arab League's 
commitment to reform, Moussa described several new programs 
including a pan-Arab parliament and a move to provide special 
consultative status for Arab NGOs that wish to affiliate with 
the Arab League.  He also mentioned an initiative to support 
the provision of identity cards and voter registration for 
women in six Arab countries.  Moussa said he would coordinate 
and cooperate with the USG on these and other reform 
projects.  PDAS Cheney welcomed his agreement, saying, 
"Together, we have the potential to be a very powerful team." 
 (Note:  In reply to PDAS Cheney's question, Moussa said an 
Arab League staffer was assigned to work on reform issues. 
We will follow up to identify the staffer and explore 
opportunities for cooperation on reform projects.  End note.) 
 
5.  (C)  PDAS Cheney closed by saying she was heartened to 
learn that the Secretary General shared the USG goals of 
expanding freedom and working for peace.  Moussa offered his 
unreserved support for the former, and said that he also 
supported the latter, but that his "terms of reference 
originate from the Beirut Declaration."  PDAS Cheney said 
that she looked forward to future meetings with the Secretary 
General.  Moussa also welcomed the prospect of future 
meetings, and noted that they would continue to include "an 
honest difference of views."  PDAS Cheney responded that she 
expected nothing less. 
 
6.  (U)  PDAS Cheney has cleared this cable. 
 
 
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GRAY