US embassy cable - 05CAIRO5925

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 005925 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, PTER, ASEC, EG, IS, IR, SY 
SUBJECT: ARAB SUMMIT: EGYPT CLEAR ON USG DESIRE FOR CLEAR 
AND SIMPLE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM 
 
REF: STATE 141247 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Charge Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chef du Cabinet Sameh 
Shukry (the MFA's number two) told the Charge July 31 that 
Egypt understood the U.S. call for a simple and clear 
definition of terrorism and would factor this view into 
preparations for the planned August 3 extraordinary Arab 
Summit expected to take place in Sharm El Sheikh.  Shukry 
said the GOE shared U.S. concerns with regard to Syrian 
actions on Lebanon and Syrian failure to take action against 
supporters of the Iraq insurgency using its territory.  The 
Charge also raised the subject of an Egyptian invitation to 
the Government of Iraq, noting that the August 3 summit would 
serve as an opportunity for a bilateral meeting between 
Presidents Mubarak and Talabani.  Shukry said he would make 
sure this suggestion was considered by the President, but he 
noted Egyptian public opinion was still "not sympathetic" to 
Iraq because of official statements in the wake of the Ihab 
Sherif murder.  (Note:  Arab Summit was subsequently 
postponed due to King Fahd's funeral) Arab League Secretariat 
Chief of Staff Hesham Youssef, said the Arab summit's formal 
agenda consisted of discussion of Palestine (post Gaza 
withdrawal), the situation in Iraq, and terrorism.  Youssef 
committed to sharing the USG message with Moussa.  End 
Summary. 
 
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GOE to Press Arab Leaders on Clear, Simple Terrorism 
Definition 
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2.  (C) The Charge delivered an oral message from the 
Secretary (reftel) July 31 to MFA Chef du Cabinet Ambassador 
 
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Sameh Shukry, as the Foreign Minister was preparing to depart 
for Sharm El Sheikh.  The Charge noted the importance of the 
summit and the necessity of achieving a satisfactory outcome. 
 Focusing on support for a simple and clear definition of 
terrorism, the Charge called for Egypt's support in 
encouraging Arab leaders to accept such a definition during 
their meeting in Sharm.  Shukry noted that the U.S. position 
was clear and that the GOE had instructed its mission in New 
York to be as cooperative as possible on this issue.  Shukry, 
clearly not up to speed on discussions in New York, promised 
to ensure that our concerns on this topic were factored into 
summit planning. 
 
3.  (C) On Syria, Shukry said the Egyptian position to press 
Syria was consistent and that he had no doubt that President 
Mubarak would use the summit as another opportunity to 
deliver a firm message to Syrian President Asad.  He assured 
the Charge that on both Syria's actions against Lebanon and 
its failure to act against those assisting the insurgency in 
Iraq, Egypt was doing a great deal. "We are advocating the 
same line," he said, while noting that the only difference 
between the GOE and the U.S. was our respective analyses on 
the extent to which Syria was attempting to take some actions. 
 
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Invitations for Iraqi Leadership 
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4.  (C) The Charge, following up on a message from the Deputy 
Secretary asking the Egyptians to host Iraqi leaders, asked 
 
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if the Egyptians were considering hosting a bilateral meeting 
between President Mubarak and visiting President Talabani on 
the margins of the August 3 summit.  Such a meeting was 
important to Iraq, the Charge noted, and would send a strong 
signal of support to the Iraqi government.  Shukry promised 
to pass the message on to the Presidency but noted that there 
was still considerable "public heat" in Egypt over the 
abduction and murder of Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq Ihab 
Sherif.  He said the public was not "prone to be sympathetic" 
to Iraq because of anger over Iraqi statements but noted that 
Egypt was taking into account the fact that this was a new 
Iraqi government "under enormous pressure." 
 
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Arab League Response to Summit Demarche 
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5.  (C) In the absence of Secretary General Amre Moussa, en 
route to Sharm El Sheikh, poloff delivered reftel demarche 
July 31 to Arab League Secretariat Chief of Staff Hesham 
Youssef.  Youssef confirmed that the summit agenda would 
consist of discussion of the Gaza withdrawal aftermath, the 
"deteriorating" situation in Iraq, and terrorism.  There was 
no agreement to discuss Syria/Lebanon or regional reform on 
the formal agenda, he said.  Poloff stressed the importance 
of reaching a clear and simple definition of terrorism, as 
proposed by UN Secretary General Annan.  Moussa's recent 
public comments in New York on the subject were positive and 
had indicated that agreement might be possible on UN 
Secretary General's Annan's proposed simplified language for 
 
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an International Convention on Terrorism.  Youssef avoided 
discussion of inner Arab politics on the topic, stating that 
"we have no differences with you on defining terrorism." 
 
6.  (C) Responding to other points of the U.S. demarche, 
Youssef said that Arab leaders would look to take a common 
position on next steps following Israel's disengagement from 
Gaza and part of the northern West Bank.  The key, he said, 
is encouraging both sides to get back to the negotiating 
table and ensuring full implementation of the Roadmap.  We 
are not looking to "reward" Israel for taking steps it should 
have taken long ago, he added, noting that movement on the 
MDA issue and encouragement of Arab ties with Israel were 
premature absent further progress with the Palestinians on 
key issues.  These included a "full withdrawal" from Gaza 
(i.e., free passage to the West Bank, Palestinian control of 
Gaza ports) as well as addressing key issues such as the 
separation barrier, settlements, and Jerusalem.  On Iraq, 
Youssef said "we basically agree," with the exception of a 
timeline for U.S. withdrawal.  Our key concern, he added, is 
to address national reconciliation in Iraq, by which the 
terrorists will be isolated and eliminated.  Continuation of 
present policies, he said, would create "a hundred more Bin 
Ladens."  Poloff pushed back, arguing that Iraq's security 
needs were critical and that Arab support was needed to end 
the insurgency. 
 
7.  (SBU) Although the Arab Summit has now been postponed due 
to King Fahd's funeral, contacts at MFA are working toward 
new dates next week, but alligning leaders' schedules may 
pose a challenge.  Post will use the addtional time to 
reinforce these messages. 
 
8.  (U) Tripoli minimize considered. 
 
 
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JONES