US embassy cable - 05CAIRO5542

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 005542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, OVIP, EG 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK'S JULY 14 MEETING WITH 
EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AFFAIRS KAMAL SHAZLY 
 
 
Classified by:  Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) July 13, 2005; 4:30 p.m.; Cairo, Egypt 
 
2. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
---- 
The Deputy Secretary 
Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin 
NEA PDAS Elizabeth Cheney 
Deputy Spokesman J. Adam Ereli 
D Executive Assistant Ross Wilson 
Embassy notetaker 
 
Egypt 
----- 
Kamal Shazly, Minister for People's Assembly Affairs and 
Assistant Secretary General of the (ruling) National 
Democratic Party. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
3. (C) In a 50 minute meeting, Kamal Shazly, Egypt's Minister 
for People's Assembly Affairs and leader of the "old guard" 
of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), told Deputy 
Secretary Zoellick that President Mubarak's initiative to 
 
SIPDIS 
institute competitive presidential elections was only the 
first step in the process of reform.  Asked for his vision of 
Egypt's future, Shazly stressed that stability was the 
country's number one priority.  Egypt has suffered much from 
terrorism, Shazly recalled, and he asserted that the country 
has long been an international leader in fighting it. 
Democracy, economic growth, and investment promotion were 
also important, he added.  Sizing up the opposition, Shazly 
noted that the Muslim Brotherhood hoped to expand its 
representation in parliament this fall, but opined that 
public opinion stood against them.  End summary. 
 
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A "Constitutional Revolution" 
----------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Asked for his views on Egypt's electoral outlook, 
Shazly said that the country will have its first ever 
competitive presidential election this fall, which he 
credited to the wisdom of President Mubarak.  Shazly recalled 
that the President had advised him of his intent to call for 
amending the constitution to allow for competitive 
presidential elections a full year before the 2004 
announcement.  Shazly was proud that the President had chosen 
the Nile Delta governorate of Manoufiya, home to both Mubarak 
and Shazly, to make this historic announcement.  The 
President's initiative to amend Article 76 of the 
constitution was only the first in a series of changes that 
would be coming, Shazly asserted, describing the process as 
one of constitutional revolution. 
 
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Stability a Priority 
-------------------- 
 
5. (C) Asked about his vision for Egypt's future in the 
coming years, Shazly immediately replied with one word: 
stability.  "We have suffered greatly from terrorism," Shazly 
stated, recalling that his own nephew, a junior police 
officer, had been killed by terrorists in the 1990s.  He 
expressed regret at the murder of Ambassador Ihab Sherif, 
Egypt's envoy to Baghdad.  Many point fingers at Al-Qa'ida, 
Shazly stated, but Iraqi Parliament Speaker Hassani had told 
Shazly the previous day in Algiers that Iran could have had a 
hand in his murder.  Shazly expressed scorn at the U.K.'s 
perceived liberal attitude toward offering political asylum 
to Arab radicals, including Islamists, and suggested that the 
July 7 London bombings were an indication that the British 
Government was reaping what it had sowed.  What will Blair do 
now, he asked rhetorically. 
 
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...And Democracy, Too 
--------------------- 
 
6. (C)  Recalling other priorities, Shazly cited the 
importance of freedom, democracy, and investment. 
 
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A Word on the Opposition 
------------------------ 
 
7. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked Shazly for his assessment 
of Egypt's political opposition and who would likely prove to 
be strong competitors in this fall's elections.  In reply, 
Shazly noted that the opposition Wafd party has five seats in 
the People's Assembly (PA), the Tagammu' has six, the 
liberals have one seat, the Nasserists have one, and the Ghad 
Party has three.  (Note: The Embassy counts four Wafd seats 
in the PA and seven for the Ghad.  End note.)  In addition, 
Shazly noted, the Muslim Brothers (MB) have 15 seats in the 
PA, although their members sit as independents.  Shazly said 
that the elections will be a competition but not a battle. 
The MB were trying hard to expand their representation in 
parliament, Shazly observed.  However, he asserted, public 
opinion does not favor them.  While stressing that he would 
stop short of accusing the MB of engaging in terrorism, if 
you look at their activities in other countries, and study 
their background, it is not encouraging.   It was ironic that 
the Saudi government, a former sponsor of Egypt's MB, was now 
suffering from violent Islamic radicalism in its own country. 
 
8. (U) This message has been 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