VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #1371 1970825
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160825Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3206
INFO RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS CAIRO 001371 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR PREL PTER ASEC EG
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON U.S.-EGYPT AIR MARSHALS AGREEMENT 
 
REF: STATE 16741 
 
¶1. (SBU) KEY POINTS 
 
--Over the past year, the USG has worked with GOE 
interlocutors to conclude an Inflight Security Officers 
agreement with Egypt.  The agreement, once finalized, will 
allow armed U.S. Federal Air Marshals to travel on board U.S. 
flights to and from Egypt. 
 
--The Egyptian Ministry of Interior, the Civil Aviation 
Authority, and Egyptair provided Econoff, via interlocutors 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with their concerns 
regarding the current draft MOU, which include relinquishment 
of the Air Marshals' firearms upon entry into Egypt, 
reciprocal treatment of Egyptian inflight security officers, 
and command authority over the Air Marshals. 
 
--Embassy Cairo has requested a new round of meetings with 
GOE officials to discuss the GOE's concerns and move forward 
with the agreement. 
 
---------- 
BACKGROUND 
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¶2. (SBU) The USG is seeking to conclude an Inflight Security 
Officers (IFSO) agreement with the GOE to allow armed U.S. 
Federal Air Marshals to travel on board flights between the 
U.S. and Egypt (reftel).  Over the past year, attorneys from 
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) met with GOE offiials 
to discuss each side's concerns with the curent draft IFSO 
Memorandum of Understanding.  Inrecent months, the GOE has 
been unresponsive to UG requests for an update on the MOU's 
status.  Rcently, MFA North American Division attorney Salma 
Atef conveyed to Econoff the GOE's interagency cncerns 
regarding the MOU. 
 
------------------------------ 
GOE issues with the current MOU 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Atef said he Ministry of Interior is concerned with 
the curent MOU's language on the requirements for the Ai 
Marshals to deposit their firearms. The draft areement calls 
for the Air Marshals to leave theirfirearms upon arrival in 
a secured facility at te airport.  MOI has requested the USG 
provide laguage that clearly states the exact procedure for 
the Air Marshals' relinquishing of their firearms  It also 
wants an article added that would allow Egypt to send armed 
Egyptian air marshals on boad Egyptair flights going to the 
United States.  astly, the MOI wants further clarity on the 
type of firearms and ammunition that would be carried y the 
Air Marshals. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Egyptair wants to make sure that the IFSO agreement 
only applies t U.S. carriers.  It does not want armed U.S. 
AirMarshals on Egyptair flights, unless a specific theat to 
that flight has been identified. 
 
¶5. (SU) The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is seeking an 
additional article stating that the Air Marshalsfall under 
the authority of the aircraft's commader (i.e. the captain). 
 The CAA also wants bothU.S. and Egyptian firearm laws to 
apply to the Ar Marshals. 
 
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Next Steps 
---------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Econoff and TSA's Amman-based field reresentative 
are seeking meetings with the relevat GOE agencies to 
discuss the current MOU impass.  Embassy Cairo has requested 
that the MFA coordinate an interagency meeting with Econoff 
and TSA attorneys in mid-July.  We will continue to report on 
substantive developments. 
SCOBEY