US embassy cable - 05CAIRO6487

S E C R E T CAIRO 006487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/WCI FOR AMB PROSPER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PHUM, EG, Visits 
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN GENERAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE DIRECTOR 
SOLIMAN EXPRESSES RESERVATIONS ABOUT RETURN OF GUANTANAMO 
BAY DETAINEES 
 
REF: A. CAIRO 5924 
 
     B. STATE 147191 
 
Classified by Charge Stuart E. Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and 
(d). 
 
1.  (S)  Summary:  At an August 20 meeting at the Egyptian 
General Intelligence Service (EGIS)(other topics reported 
SEPTEL), EGIS Director Soliman assured Congressman Hoekstra, 
Congresswoman Wilson, Congressman Shadegg, and Charge Jones 
that Guantanamo detainees would be treated humanely and that 
if they were detained, American Embassy officials would have 
access to them, as has been done in the past.  End summary. 
 
2.  (S)  Soliman said that the return of the detainees poses 
a security risk for Egyptian society that EGIS takes 
seriously.  He explained that even if an Egyptian court finds 
a suspect innocent of terrorism, if EGIS knows he is Jihadi, 
they will follow his every move and, if needed, detain him. 
This will create a tremendous burden on EGIS, Soliman 
observed.  In light of this, Soliman said "I would rather 
they stay in Guantanamo Bay."  After discussion of the 
bilateral interest in this process, Soliman conceded that the 
GOE had previously agreed to accept the Guantanamo Bay 
detainees. 
 
3.  (S)  Congresswoman Wilson then pressed Soliman for 
assurance that should the Egyptians be returned from 
Guantanamo, the GOE would treat them humanely and allow the 
USG access to them.  Soliman recalled the assurances 
described in Ref A that upon their return to Egypt, all three 
Egyptian detainees will be taken into custody and it will be 
determined whether they violated any law.  He then added that 
the detainees will be treated "very well" and that visits by 
a USG representative will be "no problem" as the USG and GOE 
are "one team."  Comment:  Post believes that Soliman's oral 
assurance should clear the way for the return of Egyptian 
detainees at Guantanamo.  End comment. 
 
 
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JONES