US embassy cable - 05CAIRO7451

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 007451 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ROME FOR MFO(LAROCCO/GUDGEON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EG, IS, MFO 
SUBJECT: GOE OFFICIALS RAISE ANTICIPATED CONCERNS ON MFO 
TRANSITION TO UH-60 
 
 
Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for 
reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) Summary:  NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth 
Dibble separately briefed Foreign Ministry and Liaison Agency 
with International Organizations (LAWIO) officials on the 
MFO's upcoming transition to the UH-60 helicopters during 
meetings in Cairo September 22-24.  The Assistant Minister 
for Legal Affairs and Treaties Abdel Azziz Seif al Nasser 
promised to study the briefing materials and raise any 
concerns with the Embassy.  After hearing the briefing, 
LAWIO's General Emir and Colonel Osama noted that getting an 
additional two million USD to fund the transition would be 
difficult.  In the LAWIO meeting, General Emir stated that 
MoD was taking all steps to meet MFO security needs. End 
summary. 
 
2.  (U) During her September 22-24 meetings in Cairo, NEA DAS 
Elizabeth Dibble discussed the upcoming transition to the 
UH-60 helicopters with Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal 
Affairs and Treaties Abdel Azziz Seif al Nasser and LAWIO 
officials General Emir and Colonel Osama.  Acknowledging that 
he is new on the MFO portfolio (having assumed his duties as 
Assistant Minister just two weeks previously), the Assistant 
Minister promised to study the briefing material and pass any 
concerns to the Embassy. 
 
3.  (U) LAWIO officials, by comparison to their MFA 
colleagues, were somewhat critical of the proposed 
transition, noting that the cost is the primary concern. 
"The MFO's role has not expanded," Colonel Osama said, adding 
that the GOE just increased its contribution to the MFO by 
USD two million.  General Emir said that the UH-60 is "more 
helicopter" than the MFO needs.  Colonel Osama complained 
that the GOE only heard last year that the transition to the 
UH-60 might cost more money. He also noted that the GOE did 
not want to pay to train new pilots and expressed a vague 
concern that the pilots would not be mission ready before 
April 2006 and that the package of parts for the UH-60s would 
not be sufficient.  Finally, the GOE asked for an increase in 
the number of offset hours.  In response, the DAS promised to 
check on the parts package and explained the formula by which 
the USG determines offset hours.  She also confirmed that MFO 
would receive pilots with a range of experience, and said 
that the U.S. Army was committed to avoiding any disruption 
in service during the transition. 
 
4.  (C) On MFO security, General Emir said that the GOE is 
addressing all of the MFO's concerns/requests, including the 
request for additional patrols.  He noted, however, that he 
believes that the MFO was targeted with the IED by people 
wanting to send a message to the Egyptian police, not the 
MFO.  (Note: Emir is referring to the recent tensions between 
security forces and the Sinai population arising from the GOE 
reaction to and investigations into the October 2004 Taba 
bombing and the July 2005 Sharm El Sheikh bombings.  End 
note.).  General Emir and Colonel Osama concluded by 
acknowledging that that force protection would remain a 
priority. 
 
 
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