Cablegate: Assistant Minister of Defense Rejects Us Offer Of

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DE RUEHEG #1503 1430400
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 230400Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5286
INFO RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1455
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0810
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001503

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER KPAL EG IS
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT MINISTER OF DEFENSE REJECTS US OFFER OF
BORDER SECURITY ASSESSMENT

Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

1. (C) The OMC Chief asked the Assistant Minister of
Defense for Policy MG Mohammed Al Assar and the Assistant
Minister for Armament MG Fouad Abd el Halim on May 21 if
Egypt is prepared to proceed with the US proposal to use FMF
to fund a border security assessment. MG Al Assar said Egypt
rejects the proposal. He said Egypt's Border Guard Forces
are well-trained and well-equipped, and MoD does not want to
divert attention or FMF money away from its own national
priorities to a border security initiative. Bolstering the
750 troops (Border Guard Forces) on the border with Gaza
would, he explained, address the problems there.

2. (C) Comment: Al Assar's reaction is no surprise. We
have a game plan to press the case with Tantawi directly
after lining up what support we might find among other MoD
players, in MFA, and in EGIS. The call ultimately will be
Mubarak's.
RICCIARDONE

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