US embassy cable - 05CAIRO6010

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006010 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR FO, ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, EG 
SUBJECT: CODEL KING'S MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN INTERIOR 
MINISTER EL ADLY AUGUST 4 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Stuart Jones Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (C) In their August 4 meeting with Interior Minister El 
Adly, CODEL King discussed the desire for deeper cooperation 
with Egypt on counterterrorism, Egypt's upcoming elections 
and associated political demonstrations, the Israeli 
withdrawal from Gaza, Egypt's proposed anti-terrorism 
legislation, and the basing of terrorist training camps in 
countries neighboring Egypt.  Charge stressed the need for 
Egyptian police to exercise restraint in policing political 
demonstrations, and noted U.S. and international concern over 
the images of police violently suppressing such protests. 
End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
U.S. - Egypt Partnership 
------------------------ 
 
2. (C) The delegation expressed its condolences on behalf of 
the American people for those killed in attacks on Sharm El 
Sheikh, thanked the Egyptians for their support for the war 
on terror and their position as a strong ally of the U.S., 
and called for deeper cooperation with the U.S. in 
counterterrorism.  El Adly praised the strategic and powerful 
relationship between the U.S. and Egypt, and expressed his 
pleasure with the close coordination the MoI enjoys with its 
counterpart agencies in the U.S. and with Embassy Cairo. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Demonstrations/Democratic Opposition 
------------------------------------ 
 
3. (C) With regard to the July 30 protests in Tahrir Square, 
whose aggressive suppression by police was broadcast 
world-wide on satellite television, Charge asserted that the 
broadcasts of Egyptian police violently quelling a protest 
were highly negative for Egypt.  El Adly said that the 
protesters were holding an illegal protest in a key sector of 
the city.  The protestors had a clear plan to incite the 
police, he believed, and were warned repeatedly by police not 
to block a certain major thoroughfare.  He asserted that the 
protesters started to attack police with stones, and the 
police then took action to clear the street and protect 
injured officers "which is an international practice." (He 
said 16 officers were injured during the melee.)  He added 
that riots are not acceptable, even in the U.S.  El Adly said 
the press had not shown what led to the confrontation and 
that the police are trained in restraint.  The Charge 
affirmed that the U.S. and other nations were very concerned 
about the images, and strongly urged the GOE not to allow 
provocations to lead to excessive measures by the police. 
 
4. (C) Regarding the emergence of multi-party elections and 
new democratic movements, El Adly attempted to differentiate 
between what he called "legal opposition" and movements, such 
as Kefaya, which he called "a cocktail of different parties." 
 He said the movements aren't necessarily "real" and very 
small in membership. 
 
-------------- 
Sharm Bombings 
-------------- 
 
5. (C) El Adly noted that although the investigation is 
ongoing, they have not yet found any direct links between the 
attacks and external terrorist organizations such as Al 
Qaeda.  He said it instead appears that the perpetrators were 
part of a home-grown movement and linked to the Taba 
bombings.  While not part of any outside organization, El 
Adly did say the bombers were part of an international 
"religious current" that is afflicting the entire world. 
While Egypt has faced terrorism for a long time, and won, he 
said the use of car bombs as in Taba and Sharm was a new and 
dangerous phenomenon. 
 
------------- 
Gaza Pull-out 
------------- 
 
6.  (C) El Adly said the MoI's focus with regard to the 
Israeli withdrawl from Gaza was the training of Palestinian 
police at the Egyptian academy and preparing the Palestinians 
to exert control over their own territory.  He also noted 
that Egyptian and Israeli police officials have formed a 
committee to discuss this process. 
 
------------------- 
New Anti-Terror Law 
------------------- 
 
7. (C) El Adly, in his response to a query about the new 
anti-terrorism legislation, focused more on eulogizing the 
old emergency law than looking toward its replacement.  He 
said that the emergency law has been very effective in 
allowing police to prevent terrorism, respond quickly to 
incidents, and conduct investigations.  "But some people," he 
said, "say this law is anti-freedom, restricts liberties and 
allows for indefinite detentions."  He said that the MoI's 
powers under this law are restricted -- there are no 
open-ended periods of detention, but "precise" ones -- and 
are under the supervision of the courts.  He added that he is 
the only individual who can order detentions. 
 
8. (C) In executing the President's wish for a new 
anti-terror law, El Adly said that the Cabinet has reviewed 
other nations' laws such as the U.S., UK and Italy, and would 
work to produce a law that would allow Egypt to confront 
"extraordinary" crimes such as terrorism. 
 
--------------- 
Sudan/Terrorism 
--------------- 
 
9. (C) Representative McCaul raised the issue of Egypt's 
shared borders with Libya and Sudan and the basing of 
terrorist training camps in these countries.  El Adly said 
that Egypt had suffered greatly because of Sudan's past 
hosting of Al Qaeda and terrorist training camps, and 
presented the assassination attempt on President Mubarak in 
Ethiopia as evidence.  Under Bashir's leadership, however, El 
Adly believes Sudanese officials have shown a willingness to 
cooperate with Egypt on counterterrorism and to rid Sudan of 
these camps (although he could not say whether or not any 
still remained). 
 
10. (U) CODEL did not have the opportunity to clear this 
cable. 
 
 
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. 
 
JONES