Currently released so far... 5267 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09CAIRO2279, EGYPT: EL BARADEI'S "CONDITIONED" PRESIDENTIAL RUN
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09CAIRO2279.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09CAIRO2279 | 2009-12-10 13:01 | 2011-02-16 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Cairo |
VZCZCXRO2572
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2279/01 3441335
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101335Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4421
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002279
SIPDIS
NSC FOR AGUIRRE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT: EL BARADEI'S "CONDITIONED" PRESIDENTIAL RUN
REF: CAIRO 2209
Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs Donald A. Blome, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1.Key Points: -- (C) Mohammed El Baradei's December 4 statement stops short of a commitment to run in Egypt's 2011 presidential elections. Now no longer at the IAEA, El Baradei expanded on earlier criticism of the state of democracy in Egypt and set a high bar for his candidacy. -- (C) Reaction from members of the government and state-run media has been harsh and personal but not uniform; with some suggesting competition has its benefits. -- (C) Opposition political and human rights activists have praised the "conditions" outlined by El Baradei but have not uniformly endorsed his candidacy.
2.(C) Comment: Thus far El Baradei's true political aspirations remain unclear. He is surely aware of his ability to influence the debate at home and may only seek, as he told CNN December 6, to do what he can "to make sure that Egypt...moves in the right direction." As a favored son of Egypt, El Baradei's remarks are harder to reject as purely "international interference." As a result, even if he is not a "serious candidate" El Baradei's endorsement of "home grown" demands keeps political reform in the public spotlight, particularly in the wake of attempts by the ruling party and President Mubarak to downplay it in favor of social and economic issues. (Reftel). End Comment. ---------------------------------- Baradei's Candidacy Still Not Confirmed ----------------------------------
3.(C) On December 4, former chairman of the IAEA Mohammed El Baradei issued a statement on Egypt's 2011 presidential elections endorsing many of the political reforms called for by Egypt's opposition. The statement, critical of the state of reform in Egypt, outlined the "built-in conditions for a free and fair election" he first mentioned to the media in early November, but stopped short of a clear commitment to run. His remarks come in response to calls from political activists that he and other prominent Egyptians enter the elections as an alternative to the succession of presidential son Gamal Mubarak. In the December statement, sent to the Egyptian media from El Baradei's private office in Vienna (where he is expected to remain until a possible visit to Egypt in January), El Baradei frames himself as a reluctant candidate. In a subsequent comment aired on CNN December 6, El Baradei affirmed he would run only if "in the interest of the homeland" and with broad consent from the public. (Note: The hurdles to El Baradei's candidacy are not limited to his own pre-conditions for the regime. In order to run, Al Baradei must either join the leadership of one of Egypt's legal opposition parties with at least one seat in the parliament or run as an independent requiring that his candidacy be endorsed by 250 sitting officials; a difficult task for anyone outside of the ruling party. End Note.) Dean of Cairo University's Faculty of Economics and Political Science, and high-ranking NDP official Dr. Alia El Mahdi told PolOff that El Baradei's family (a possible reference to Dr. Mona El Baradei whom she replaced as Dean) told her El Baradei does not intend to run. Without any real opinion polling in Egypt, El Baradei's true popularity is unclear. ------------------------- Call for Political Reform -------------------------
4.(C) El Baradei's reform message in the statement is broad. It adds weight to calls for constitutional reforms from others, like well-known journalist Mohammed Hussenein Haykel who suggested Egypt needed an interim government with a council of experts to draft a new constitution. In his statement, El Baradei is critical of the election process, urging the government to "open the candidacy door to all Egyptians," and calling for the removal of "constitutional and legal" obstacles potential candidates face (a reference to changes made to Article 76 of the constitution which many say was tailor made for Gamal Mubarak). The statement also sets out a series of "necessary guarantees" that would ensure the election's validity and "send a clear message" to the world that Egypt is serious about reform. These "guarantees" include a new and "neutral" election commission, full judicial supervision of the elections (requiring a constitutional amendment), international monitoring and equal CAIRO 00002279 002 OF 002 access to state media for all candidates. --------- Reaction --------
5.(C) Strong criticism of the statement from state media and ruling-party officials, including several NDP members of parliament, was immediate but not universal. Some commentators questioned the seriousness of Baradei's intentions and suggested he should first build his domestic political credentials. Many criticized his intention to "impose conditions" on Egypt from afar and his desire to see the presidency given to him on a "silver platter." In an article published the next day, Director of the government-funded Al Ahram Foundation Abdel Moneim Said suggested El Baradei stop acting as an "inspector" as he had at the IAEA and called conditions for participation "arrogant." Said called the return to full judicial supervision (i.e. one judge per ballot box) out of step with international norms. Minister of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Moufid Shehab asked "What does El Baradei know about the Egyptian people?" and suggested he needed to earn his popularity.
6.(C) Media comments from some reform-oriented voices within the National Democratic Party (NDP) suggest competition is either welcome or not seen as a real challenge. NDP insider Mohammed Kamal (member of the influential NDP Policies Committee lead by Gamal Mubarak) seemed unconcerned, saying El Baradei should run "if he qualifies" as a candidate. Fellow member of the NDP Policies Committee Hossam Badrawi emphasized El Baradei's "right to run" and said criticism demonstrated a lack of "political maturity" about the nature of competition. Badrawi added that there had been no "political guidance" from within the NDP to attack El Baradei. Separately, NDP Spokesman Ali Eldin Hillal told PolOff, the "door is open" to those who feel they are qualified to run. Dr. Alia El Mahdi went further, suggesting to PolOff that El Baradei's comments should be seen as a set of principles "anyone would think of" and that they need to be implemented for a "suitable person to run." However, she said it is not likely that "all will happen."
7.(C) Journalist and blogger Issandr Amrani told PolOff he thought the effort to undermine El Baradei has instead undermined the Presidency, and the commitments by NDP leaders including President Mubarak to "competitive" elections; making the regime appear afraid of an El Baradei candidacy. Others noted that if El Baradei is serious about running for president these conditions also put his own credibility at risk given that they are unlikely to be implemented.
8.(C) Opposition party leaders have responded largely with tempered praise to El Baradei's comment. Reveling in the embarrassment they believe the remarks have caused the regime, opposition leaders, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, have endorsed the conditions El Baradei sets for his participation but not necessarily his candidacy. Most do not expect that El Baradei's comments will lead to real reform before the elections nor are they convinced of the seriousness of his intentions. Democratic Front Party President Osama Al Ghazali Harb called the statement a "useful form of pressure" on the regime. Human rights activist Ahmed Saif Al Islam of the Hisham Mubarak Center called El Baradei's statements a form of "political haggling" to achieve broad political gains. He added that the statement might be a "'chic' way to refuse to enter the elections." Some have said publically they are willing to offer El Baradei their party's nomination, including Ayman Nour's Al Ghad and the marginal Free Constitutional Party. Despite media rumors regarding support from younger members, the Wafd party Secretary General Mounir Fakry AbdelNour definitively rejected naming El Baradei. George Is'haq, a founding member of the Kifaya movement, told PolOff the mainstream opposition is also embarrassed. He said endorsing an outside candidate is an admission of their own irrelevance. Ahmed Maher of the April 6 movement announced the group will coordinate online support for El Baradei's nomination. Scobey