US embassy cable - 05CAIRO5521

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 005521 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, OVIP, EG, IS, IZ, LE, SU 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK'S JULY 14, 2005 MEETING 
WITH EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT MUBARAK 
 
 
Classified by Charge Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1.  (U) Date, time and place:  July 14, 2005, 11:45 a.m., 
Alexandria, Egypt. 
 
2.  (U) Participants: 
 
U.S.: 
----- 
The Deputy Secretary 
Charge Michael Corbin 
NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney 
Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli 
D Executive Assistant Ross Wilson 
Embassy notetaker 
 
Egypt: 
------ 
President Hosni Mubarak 
Spokesman Soliman Awad 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
3.  (C)  President Mubarak said that Egypt is pushing Iraq's 
Sunnis to not be an obstacle to stability in Iraq.  He 
welcomed a visit from Iraqi Prime Minister Ja'fari, but only 
after the situation "calms down."  He pressed the U.S. to 
open a back channel of communication to Syrian President Asad 
rather than back him into a corner.  Mubarak also outlined 
his efforts to promote peace in Sudan and press the 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad to stop violent attacks against 
Israel.  Mubarak described himself as "afraid for the 
stability" of Lebanon.  On domestic reform, Mubarak expressed 
confidence in the GOE's economic leadership and vowed to 
press on with political reforms.  End summary. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
4.  (C) The Deputy Secretary opened the meeting by expressing 
condolences for the murder in Iraq of Egyptian chief of 
mission Ambassador Ihab el Sherif.  He noted that Iraqi Prime 
Minister Ja'fari, whom the Deputy Secretary had just seen in 
Baghdad, asked that his condolences be passed to Mubarak as 
well.  The Deputy Secretary explained that Ja'fari would like 
to visit Egypt soon.  Mubarak replied that such a visit was 
"not a problem," but should wait until the situation "calms 
down," pointing specifically to Egypt's upcoming elections 
and the media backlash in Egypt following the murder of 
Sherif. 
 
5.  (C) Mubarak said that stability in Iraq is important not 
just for Iraqis, but for the entire region.  Egypt is  trying 
to help, he added.  Specifically, Egypt, via EGIS Director 
Soliman, is trying to persuade the Sunnis not to be 
obstinate.  Mubarak went on to say that Iraq is a difficult 
country.  Iraq's neighbors make it difficult, he elaborated, 
as do Iraq's own domestic divisions.  Also, he noted, 
terrorists are coming to Iraq "from everywhere."  He urged 
the U.S. to put Iraq's cities and towns under Iraqi security 
control as quickly as possible and withdraw U.S. forces to 
rural areas. 
 
----- 
Syria 
----- 
 
6.  (C) Mubarak repeatedly urged the Deputy Secretary to open 
"a back channel" to Syrian President Bashar Asad.  "I think 
Syria will make a tremendous effort" to improve relations 
with the U.S., Mubarak said, but not if Asad "is put in a 
corner."  Asad "needs reassurance," Mubarak said.  Regarding 
the infiltration of insurgents from Syria to Iraq, Mubarak 
argued that borders are always hard to police, pointing to 
Egypt's problems in Sinai and the difficulty of securing U.S. 
borders. 
 
7.  (C) The Deputy Secretary argued that Syria could better 
control its borders if it chose to do so.  While expressing a 
readiness to reflect on Mubarak's advice, the Deputy 
Secretary stressed that Asad tends to only throw a few crumbs 
 
SIPDIS 
to the U.S., just enough "to send us away."  The Deputy 
Secretary added that if Syria is genuinely ready to work with 
 
SIPDIS 
us on issues like Iraq, Lebanon, and the Middle East Peace 
Process, there is a possibility for cooperation. 
 
8.  (C) Asad, Mubarak said, is in a weak position.  He has 
tried to make some changes, but those around him are 
resistant, and coming from the minority Alawite sect is a 
disadvantage for Asad, Mubarak asserted.  Mubarak expressed 
concern about what the return of Syrian troops from Lebanon 
meant for Syria's internal stability.  If there is a coup in 
Syria, Mubarak said, the military will take over and it will 
be like the 1950s again.  Disorder in Syria, he warned, would 
affect Iraq  and others in the region. 
 
----- 
Sudan 
----- 
 
9.  (C) The Deputy Secretary expressed appreciation for 
Egypt's efforts in Sudan, noting its role in supporting the 
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, work with the National 
Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Egypt's dispatch of 
peacekeeping troops and humanitarian assistance to Darfur. 
Mubarak explained how he had defused a crisis at the African 
Union summit in Libya which Sudanese President Bashir was 
threatening to boycott because of the presence of his 
Eritrean counterpart.  After  a number of other African 
leaders failed to change Bashir's  mind, Mubarak said, he 
stepped in and convinced Bashir to attend.  Mubarak said that 
his own discussions with President Isais had gone very well 
and that Eritrea accepted the  GOE's efforts. 
 
------------------------- 
Middle East Peace Process 
------------------------- 
 
10.  (C) Mubarak noted that the GOE is already providing 
training in Egypt for Palestinian security personnel and will 
send some advisors to Gaza to provide further assistance.  He 
added that Egypt is also working hard with the Palestinian 
factions, and brought the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad 
(PIJ) to Cairo to direct him to halt violence against 
Israelis.  Mubarak said the PIJ leader agreed to do so, but 
Mubarak cautioned that different elements of the PIJ work in 
different directions. 
 
11.  (C) Mubarak explained that he has pressed the 
Palestinian Authority to crack down harder on extremists but 
is simultaneously urging Sharon to support Abu Mazen. 
Mubarak warned that if Abu Mazen goes, there will be 
disorder. 
 
12.  (C) Regarding the deployment of Egyptian border guards 
to the Egypt-Gaza frontier, Mubarak said that the GOE is 
ready to move, but some in the Knesset are making trouble. 
Mubarak scoffed at the notion that such a deployment could be 
any threat to Israel.  Mubarak said that he told Israeli 
Infrastructure Minister Ben-Eliezer, recently in Cairo to 
sign a natural gas agreement, that the GOE will do its part 
to stop cross-border smuggling but that the GOI must do the 
same. 
 
------- 
Lebanon 
------- 
 
13.  (C) Mubarak compared the situation in Lebanon today to 
that of 1975-76, describing himself as afraid for the 
stability of the country.  He said that he had been urging 
Syria not to interfere, and Asad claimed to have no 
intelligence or security forces still in the country. 
However, Mubarak added, "Bashar listens, but does not know" 
what some elements of his security forces are up to.  Echoing 
his earlier theme, Mubarak said that a U.S. back  channel to 
Asad would help improve Syria's attitude towards Lebanon. 
 
--------------- 
Reform in Egypt 
--------------- 
 
14.  (C) In response to the Deputy Secretary's praise of 
Prime Minister Nazif's economic team, Mubarak said that 
"Nazif selected very good people."  Mubarak insisted that he 
had left the selection of the new cabinet ("except for the 
defense minister and foreign minister") up to Nazif. 
Regarding political reform, Mubarak said that Egypt has "not 
ever seen anything" like the recently-mandated direct 
presidential elections and "people are confused." 
Nonetheless, Mubarak claimed to be determined to push 
forward.  In recalling an incident of political campaign 
violence some years ago, Mubarak said he is trying to 
persuade political parties to campaign peacefully.  Mubarak 
added that the key this year is the parliamentary elections, 
and that he hopes the new political parties law will help 
parties "reenergize."  The political changes "will be 
difficult for people," Mubarak concluded, but stressed that 
he would move the process forward nonetheless. 
15.  (U) This cable was cleared by D. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
CORBIN