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INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000

UNCLAS STATE 105341 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA PREL
SUBJECT: EGYPT'S UNGA PRIORITIES: A/S ESTHER BRIMMER'S 
SEPTEMBER 22 MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN UN DIRECTOR NAELA GABR 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. A/S Brimmer met with Egyptian UN Director Naela 
Gabr on September 22 on the margins of the 64th UN General 
Assembly (UNGA).  The discussion focused on gender issues,the 
Middle East Safeguards resolution,food security,human rights, 
UNESCO Director-General election and the UNESCO.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. At a meeting with IO Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer, 
Egyptian UN Director Naela Gabr touched on a wide range of UN 
issues.  Gabr mentioned that Egypt's leadership of the 
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was a key priority.  As President 
of the NAM, they were open to fostering North-South 
cooperation in the UN.  They supported "re-structuring 
exercises" that would preserve the credibility and efficiency 
of the UN and enhance the UN's ability to play a role in 
solving world crises.  Egypt was committed to strengthening 
the role of the General Assembly in the UN system through 
greater system-wide coherence, "maintaining the role of 
ECOSOC," and avoiding duplication and increasing transparency. 
 
--------------------------------- 
UNESCO Director General Elections 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Towards the end of the meeting, Gabr expressed "shock" 
that Egyptian candidate Farouk Hosni was defeated in the 
UNESCO Director-General elections, noting that Egypt was 
itself "the world's largest open-air museum" and citing 
Egypt's close work with UNESCO over the years.  She noted 
that this defeat would have a negative impact on multilateral 
affairs.  Gabr said she had spoken to Ambassador Scobey, 
saying that if Egypt were defeated, people would say that it 
was because of "underground maneuvers" by the United States, 
which could affect the bilateral relationship, as well.  Gabr 
said that the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had always 
been particularly supportive of a constructive working 
relationship with the United States, but that the UNESCO 
election defeat would have a "bad effect, an effect that is 
negative to the end of the world." 
 
¶4. (SBU) A/S Brimmer noted that the tone of the race was 
inappropriate and that the United States did not like the way 
our ambassador was portrayed in the Egyptian media.  She 
called for the highest standards of conduct in all UN 
elections.  Gabr agreed, but stated that she felt that many 
of the candidates, including the Austrian and Ecuadorian 
candidates, were not sufficiently qualified for the position. 
 Gabr felt that the campaign was not fair.  That said, Gabr 
noted that not being Director-General would free Egypt's 
"movements."  She implied that Egypt might express its 
displeasure in multilateral cultural fora, including the 
World Heritage Council.  She specifically cited "preserving 
Jerusalem's identity" as an area in which they had high 
expectations of UNESCO, something on which they would make no 
concessions in the future.  Gabr said that regardless of the 
outcome of the UNESCO elections, however, she was committed 
to working together with us in other areas going forward. 
 
------------- 
Gender Issues 
------------- 
 
¶5. Gabr noted that Egypt expects to host two major 
conferences on women's issues and development, one with the 
NAM and one with the Organization of the Islamic Conference 
(OIC).  A/S Brimmer mentioned that maternal health was also a 
key U.S. priority; Gabr replied that Egypt would be eager to 
work with us on that issue. 
 
¶6. Regarding the September 14 GA resolution creating the 
gender entity, Gabr said that the leader of the entity should 
be sensitive to: (a) "norm setting" that would result in 
concrete outcomes; (b) operational activities; and (c) 
monitoring.  Gabr was particularly concerned that monitoring 
efforts should not overlap with those of the other bodies. 
Gabr expressed further concern that the relationship between 
the new architecture and the UN Security Council was not 
clear.  Both A/S Brimmer and Gabr agreed that violence 
against women in conflict situations was a grave threat 
against international peace and security that should be 
addressed by the Council.  Gabr called for an entity that can 
take clear actions and produce tangible results that 
transcend only conversations and conferences.  Gabr expressed 
personal distress at the plight of women in many sub-Saharan 
African countries, as well as the misperception that Islam is 
against women. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Middle East Safeguards Resolution 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. Gabr again expressed "shock" at the "lack of U.S. support" 
for Egypt's Middle East Safeguards resolution at the IAEA. 
(Note: The United States abstained. End Note.)  She felt that 
Egypt was embarking on a "new phase" and had already shown 
"maximum flexibility," and that our perceived lack of support 
was "not the way to prepare for the NPT conference."  A/S 
Brimmer re-iterated support for Egypt's priorities regarding 
nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament in the 2010 
conference.  Gabr said that this resolution is very important 
to Egypt's priorities for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle 
East, as well as to Egyptian media reactions. 
 
------------- 
Food Security 
------------- 
 
¶8. Gabr mentioned that food security was an important issue, 
particularly as it concerns women in rural societies where 
women play such a large role in agricultural production. 
Gabr mentioned that the Egyptian First Lady would host a 
gathering of First Ladies from the NAM on the margins of the 
November food security conference in Rome, consisting of 
statements and panel discussions, with the results being 
presented to the main plenary meetings. 
 
------------ 
Human Rights 
------------ 
 
¶9. Egypt supported the 2011 review of the Human Rights 
Council as a way of improving procedures.  On freedom of 
expression, Gabr said that the resolution was a good step. 
She anticipated being queried on defamation of religion 
again, but said that this issue was a matter that "needs 
time, is more sensitive, and we will wait to see how it 
evolves." 
 
¶10. Gabr said that Egypt did not like the UN imposing a 
"value system on our society."  She cited as an example 
"imposing rules regarding sexual orientation."  She said that 
sexual orientation was a choice with which no one in Egypt 
has a problem with, noting that Egypt had no laws 
discriminating against homosexuals and that Egypt opposed any 
form of discrimination.  She said that Egypt condemned 
violence against minorities, and stated that the country 
imposed the death penalty only for first-degree murder, rape 
and kidnapping, and drug-trafficking, but not for 
homosexuality.  Thus, she said, in dealing with similar 
issues, "legal steps are fine, but don't impose values on us. 
 We do not like people playing games and maneuvering in 
documents from the Secretariat." 
CLINTON