VZCZCXYZ0006
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #6461 2911505
ZNY SSSSS ZZH(CCY ADX 39125D MSI0638 615A)
O 181505Z OCT 06 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2108
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

S E C R E T CAIRO 006461 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (PARAGRAPH MARKINGS) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 
TAGS: PREL PTER MEPN UNSC EG LE SY
SUBJECT: (C) THREATS TO LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER OF SERIOUS 
CONCERN TO EGYPT 
 
REF: STATE 172274 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political 
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (S) During an October 17 meeting with MFA Cabinet Advisor 
for Syrian and Lebanese Affairs, Nazih Al Negeiry, poloff 
raised reftel demarche points on Syrian-originated threats 
against Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.  Negeiry was 
familiar with the topic, referring to Egyptian embassy 
reporting and press reports from Beirut.  He said the U.S. 
demarche was "consistent with what we are hearing" from 
regional reporting.  Offering to circulate the USG message 
internally, Negeiry said Egypt was seriously concerned by the 
heightened tensions and reports of impending attacks. 
Egyptian Intelligence Minister Omar Soliman, he noted, 
discussed the issue during his recent visit to Damascus. 
 
¶2.  (S) Shifting to U.S.-Syria relations, Negeiry said 
Egypt's Damascus mission had recently reported rumors that 
Washington was looking at ways to improve relations with 
Damascus.  Negeiry argued that Washington needed to give 
Syria "something meaningful" on the Golan or Lebanon before 
the SARG would end its cooperation with Tehran or its 
problem-making among Palestinians.  Referring to recent 
rocket attacks in Beirut near the PM's and UN offices, 
Negeiry said the attacks were warnings to Seniora and the UN 
not to further challenge Syrian interests in Lebanon.  Based 
on conversations with Lebanese politicians, he added, a 
decision by the GOL and UNIIIC to pursue the specific charge 
of "crimes against humanity" in the upcoming Hariri-murder 
tribunal would motivate Syria and its proxies in Lebanon to 
seek violent retribution against Seniora and his March 14 
allies. 
JONES