US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4378

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004378 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EG, IZ, IS, KBIO 
SUBJECT: BIO INFORMATION ON NEW EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ 
 
 
Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (C) The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released in 
late April a list of names of Egyptian diplomats assigned to 
new postings, including that of Depty Assistant Minister for 
Eastern Arab Affairs, Dr. Ihab Sherif.  At the time, the MFA 
did not reveal that Sherif was slotted to go to Baghdad, 
since the Iraqi Transitional Government had not yet been 
officially formed.  Sherif was reported to have arrived in 
Baghdad in late May or early June and we understood he will 
shortly present his credentials to the Iraqi Government as 
Egypt's Ambassador to Baghdad.  (Note:  Sherif's predecessor, 
Ambassador Mubarak, had been given Ambassadorial title by 
Cairo but had never presented his credentials to the Iraqi 
government.  This protocol step would have indicated a return 
to normalized relations.  At the time, the Iraqi Embassy in 
Cairo sugggested to Post that the GOE would delay a return to 
normal diplomatic relations until the December national 
elections.  End note.) 
 
2.  (C) Ambassador Sherif is well known to Post, as we have 
worked closely with him on Middle East peace process and 
other regional issues over the past several years.  Before 
assuming the Deputy Assistant Minister position at the MFA, 
Sherif served as the Charge d'Affaires at the Egyptian 
Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, following the recall of Egyptian 
Ambassador Bassiouni in 2000 during the second Intifada.  As 
a result of his work in Israel and Syria, Sherif is among the 
most well-informed observers of the Middle East peace process 
in the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and has been a close 
confidant to the Minister on this subject. 
 
3.  (C) Comment:  Sherif considers himself a friend of the 
United States, and as such has endured criticism from 
diplomatic colleagues.  Regardless, he is tough on U.S. 
policy in the region, particularly vis-a-vis Israel, but is 
rarely polemical or confrontational.  He has published a 
number of photographic books on various countries, hoping one 
day to complete a book on the United States for an 
Arabic-reading audience.  Sherif is interested in reaching 
out to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and would welcome contacts 
at any and all levels - an unusual characteristic for a 
member of the protocol-conscious Egyptian diplomatic cadre. 
Despite his French education and Francophile tendencies, 
Sherif retains a healthy and constructive attitude toward the 
United States.  We are confident that a relationship with 
Sherif in Baghdad would be both productive and useful.  End 
comment. 
 
4.  (U) Begin text of curriculum vitae (C.V.) for Dr. Ihab 
Sherif: 
 
Date of Birth:  January 1, 1954 
 
Education: 
 
1994  Ph.D. in Political Science, "The Phenomenon of Militant 
Islam in the Arab World,"  Sorbonne University, Paris 
 
1988  Diploma in Conflict Resolution,  Uppsala University, 
Sweden 
 
1984  Doctorate (Masters Degree) of Troisieme Cycle in 
Political Sciences, Paris XI University 
 
1984  M.A. in Political Science, "The Impact of the Iranian 
Revolution on the Secular and Semi-secular Regimes in the 
Middle East," Paris University 
 
1981  Diploma of Higher Specialised Studies in Diplomacy, 
Paris XI University 
 
1981  Diploma from the French International Institute for 
Public Administration, Paris 
 
1975  University Degree in Psychology, Cairo University 
 
Career: 
 
May 2005  Head of Egyptian Mission to Iraq 
 
2003-2005  Deputy Assistant Minister for Mashraq Affairs 
 
Nov 2000-2003  Charge d,Affaires, Tel Aviv 
 
Jul 1999-2000  Deputy Chief of Mission, Tel Aviv 
 
1998-1999  Chief of Cabinet for the Assistant Minister of 
Foreign Affairs for American Affairs 
 
1994-1998  Counselor, Damascus 
 
1992-1994  Staff member and lecturer, Egyptian Institute for 
Diplomatic Studies 
 
1988-1992  First Secretary, Paris 
 
1985-1988  Cabinet of Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali, State 
Minister for Foreign Affairs 
 
1981-1985  Third Secretary, Central African Republic 
 
1979  Diplomat 
 
Honors: 
 
1999  The Cross Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of 
Germany 
 
Commentary: 
 
Dr. Ihab Al-Sherif frequently writes on political and 
economic themes for Arab newspapers such as Al Ahram, The 
Review of International Politics, and is a lecturer at 
different Universities (Sorbonne, Centre D'Etudes de l'Islam 
Contemporain (Paris), Nasser Academy, and the Cairo Institute 
for Diplomatic Studies). 
 
Dr. Ihab's chief hobby is photography.  He has published five 
books of photographs and impressions on various countries 
around the world.  He was awarded the Merit of Order from 
Germany for his publishing efforts. 
 
Dr. Ihab speaks perfect French and English.  He is married. 
 
End text of C.V. 
 
 
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GRAY