US embassy cable - 05CAIRO6286

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KUNR, EG, UNGA, UNSC, UN 
SUBJECT: UN REFORM:  EGYPT NOT YET FOCUSED ON HIGH-LEVEL 
EVENT 
 
REF: A. STATE 149376 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. USUN 1717 (NOTAL) 
     C. AUG 2 CORBIN-MCVERRY E-MAIL 
 
Classified by Charge Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) The Charge delivered ref A demarche on August 15 to 
MFA Acting Chief of the Minister's Cabinet, Yasser Morad. 
Morad accepted the points with limited substantive reply, but 
promised to study the U.S. message.  He indicated that the 
GOE had not yet focused on the High Level Event (HLE).  On 
the subject of a new Human Rights Council to replace the UN's 
current Commission, Morad expressed skepticism that a United 
Nations body's membership could be selected without a 
rotation in the UN system.  But, he promised that Egypt would 
keep an open mind to proposals. 
 
2.  (C) Morad pushed back on USG insistence over Security 
Council oversight of the Peace-building Commission, noting 
that Egypt and the U.S. had different views.  He was somewhat 
mollified by assurances that the USG was willing to negotiate 
appropriate and clearly defined roles for ECOSOC and General 
Assembly interface with the Commission, so long as the 
Security Council maintained oversight, per ref A demarche. 
 
3.  (C) Morad stated that the GOE had not yet reached a final 
position on the definition of terrorism.  He hinted that 
there was movement in the direction the USG wished, but that 
the final outcome would not fully satisfy USG requirements. 
(Note:  During an August 14 conversation with Presidential 
Advisor Soliman Awad, the Charge was told that Egypt - in the 
context of a planned Arab summit - was pushing with its Arab 
neighbors a simplified definition of terror with no reference 
to freedom fighters;  this topic is expected to be on the 
agenda at the next Arab summit, postponed until after 
September.  It is possible that President Mubarak will sweep 
away any nuanced position concocted in the MFA, in favor of 
the simple and sweeping version favored by the USG.  End 
note.) 
 
4  (C) Comment.  With Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit and his 
Chief of Cabinet Sameh Shukry both on vacation, and the 
Presidency focused on the September 7 Presidential election, 
the GOE has yet to focus on the UN High Level Event.  Also, 
it remains unclear whether our August 2 (ref C) demarche to 
MFA working-level contacts to complain about GOE diplomatic 
behavior in New York (ref B) has affected GOE tactics. 
British and Japanese colleagues were also scheduled to 
deliver similar demarches this week.  (Note:  It was not 
possible to coordinate joint delivery with the Japanese due 
to Japanese Ambassador's schedule.  End Note.)  End comment. 
 
 
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JONES