US embassy cable - 05CAIRO6420

S E C R E T CAIRO 006420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MOPS, PTER, EG, IZ 
SUBJECT: IRAQ:  HALTING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS AND 
TERRORISTS;  EGYPTIAN RESPONSE 
 
REF: STATE 136754 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (S) The Charge delivered reftel demarche July 24 to 
Presidential Spokesman Soliman Awad, stressing the importance 
of assisting Iraq with its battle to confront the insurgency 
movement.  Addressing the need to prevent Egyptian nationals 
from travelling to Iraq for the purpose of conducting jihad, 
the Charge requested Egypt to be particularly attentive to 
the foreign travel of its citizens, particularly young men 
travelling to Syria and Lebanon.  Awad welcomed the U.S. 
message, promising to convey our points to the appropriate 
offices within the GOE.  Awad also replied that Egypt would 
continue its active engagement with the USG on stemming 
support for the insurgency in Iraq, as the conflict there had 
direct security implications for Egypt.  (Note:  The Egyptian 
General Intelligence Service continues to work closely with 
its USG counterparts in other channels on this topic.  That 
cooperation includes, but is not limited to, measures 
discussed by reftel talking points such as information 
sharing, travel restrictions, consular improvements, and 
public diplomacy.  End note.) 
 
2.  (C) Poloff also raised reftel demarche points with MFA 
Cabinet staff member Alaa Hadidi July 25, leaving the talking 
points in the form of an aide-memoire.  Hadidi promised to 
share the message within the MFA, and to reply with any 
substantive response.  To date, we have not received a formal 
reply to the demarche from the MFA. 
 
 
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JONES