US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4428

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004428 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ELA AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MASS, EAID, EU, EG 
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE 
REFERENCE IN US-EU SUMMIT STATEMENT 
 
Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) A senior MFA official convoked the Charge on June 12, 
at the Foreign Minister's direction, to express concern over 
how Egypt understood it was being characterized in a draft of 
a final statement for the June 20 U.S.-European Union summit 
in Washington.  Assistant Minister Shadia Farag told the 
Charge that it was "unacceptable" for Egypt to be included in 
the same list as Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Palestine - 
places the GOE believes are undergoing "exceptional 
circumstances" not comparable to the situation in Egypt.  The 
GOE would interpret the inclusion of an explicit reference to 
Egypt in the summit statement as damaging and 
"counterproductive."  The Charge underscored the USG's policy 
toward political reform and election monitors for Egypt, but 
agreed to convey the GOE's concerns to Washington.  The Dutch 
Ambassador, representing the EU Presidency, received a 
similar demarche and shared with us the content of a GOE oral 
message (text at paragraph five).  Farag also inquired 
whether the Administration had sent a letter to Congressman 
Lantos and other Members of Congress opposing the former's 
efforts to restructure foreign military and economic 
assistance budgets for Egypt.  End summary. 
 
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GOE Expresses its Concern to the U.S. 
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2.  (C) MFA Assistant Minister for Americas Affairs, 
Ambassador Shadia Farag, convoked the Charge June 12 to raise 
GOE concerns over draft language for the U.S.-European Union 
June 20 summit in Washington.  Farag said that the Egyptian 
Embassy in Washington reported its understanding that the 
draft document contained "negative references to Egypt's 
political reform process."  The draft statement, she 
understood, had been drafted in such a way as to link 
developments in Egypt with events in Iraq, Afghanistan, 
Lebanon, and Palestine - all of which, she said, were 
undergoing "exceptional circumstances."  Inclusion of Egypt 
in this list, she added, would be "unacceptable and 
counterproductive" and would be considered by the GOE as 
"interference in Egypt's internal affairs." 
 
3.  (C) While noting he had not seen the draft document in 
question, the Charge said that he would convey the GOE 
message to Washington.  He emphasized that President Bush 
clearly expressed USG policy toward Egypt's upcoming 
elections on May 7 in Latvia, when he called for fair and 
transparent elections with international monitoring.  The 
Charge questioned why the GOE would object to the mention of 
Egypt's recent constitutional reform and other positive steps 
to permit increased political expression and pluralism.  In 
fact, it would seem odd not to mention efforts made by 
President Mubarak in this area in such a public statement. 
Furthermore, the Charge questioned why Egypt would be 
reluctant to allow foreign observers since it had recently 
participated in election monitoring efforts in Zimbabwe and 
Palestine, and since the ruling National Democratic Party has 
routinely invited foreign observers to its annual meetings. 
The GOE, he concluded, should be creative and find ways to 
invite international election monitors.  Recent public 
remarks on the topic made by the Egyptian Foreign Minister, 
the Charge observed, had not closed the window on this 
option.  Assistant Minister Farag responded that the GOE 
believed from recent senior-level bilateral discussions that 
the USG viewed Egypt's recent reform steps efforts 
positively.  Therefore, the GOE believed that identifying 
Egypt as part of the aforementioned list would be 
counterproductive. 
 
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...and to the EU 
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4.  (C) The Dutch Ambassador, in the absence of a Luxembourg 
mission (current EU President), told the Charge June 13 that 
he had received a very similar demarche from the MFA 
Assistant Minister for European Affairs on June 12.  In a 
separate conversation on June 13, the UK Ambassador (who, 
along with the EU Ambassador, accompanied the Dutch 
Ambassador to the meeting at the MFA) provided the Charge 
with the same information on the demarche.  The Dutch 
Ambassador (please protect) shared the text of a written 
"oral message" that he received from the MFA (text below). 
Note:  Assistant Minister Farag did not provide the text of 
an oral message to the Charge, although she made it clear she 
was bringing this issue at the Foreign Minister's direction. 
End note. 
-------------------------- 
Text of Oral Message to EU 
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5.  (SBU) Begin text of oral message: 
 
- In following US-EU consultations on the draft EU-US Summit 
Declaration, we have observed that there is reference to 
reform and democracy in Egypt, drafted in a way that is 
tantamount to interference in Egypt's internal affairs.  We 
therefore regard any specific reference to Egypt as having 
negative effect, at a time when political developments in 
Egypt are witnessing noticeable progress worthy of 
encouragement and support. 
 
- In this context, I should like to stress that it serves no 
one's interest - given the evolving momentum within the 
Egyptian society towards further steps to advance the 
political process - to see such reference, particulary that 
the suggested text places Egypt on the same footing with 
states that are going through exceptional circumstances 
(Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Lebanon), nor is it logical to 
establish such linkages with Egypt.  Furthermore, we do not 
see any justification for questioning the steps being 
undertaken by Egypt. 
 
-  Consequently, I trust that you appreciate and understand 
the necessity of avoiding any semblance of outside 
interference in matters directly related to internal affairs. 
 
I do hope that you will strive, with other Euro-Atlantic 
Partners, to avoid any repercussions on the spirit and 
substance of our mutual cooperation, or any negative impact 
on Egyptian public opinion that will compromise the goals we 
aspire for. 
 
End text of oral message. 
 
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Lantos Amendment 
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6.  (C) Assistant Minister Farag also inquired whether the 
Administration had sent a letter to Congressman Lantos and 
other Members of Congress opposing a Lantos-sponsored 
amendment that seeks to restructure USG military and economic 
assistance to Egypt.  Farag stated that she was under the 
impression that the Secretary would send such a letter to 
Capitol Hill.  The Charge replied that the USG had made its 
position on the amendment clear to Prime Minister Nazif when 
he visited Washington last month, and he understood that the 
USG would find an appropriate mechanism to convey its 
position to Members of Congress. 
 
 
 
 
 
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http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
GRAY