Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09CAIRO1749, EGYPT'S ECONOMY: September 10 PRESS ROUND-UP

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #09CAIRO1749.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CAIRO1749 2009-09-10 08:43 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Cairo
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #1749/01 2530843
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100843Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3566
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS CAIRO 001749 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINV EFIN ETRD EAGR ENRG PGOV EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT'S ECONOMY: September 10 PRESS ROUND-UP 
 
1. (U) The following are notable economic news stories that appeared 
over the past week in the Egyptian press: 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Preparing for Free Trade Negotiations with MERCOSUR 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
2. (U) Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid Mohamed Rachid affirmed 
Egypt's commitment to conclude a free trade agreement with Southern 
Common Market (MERCOSUR) countries, including Argentina, Brazil, 
Paraguay and Uruguay. This development came during a meeting held by 
the Minister on August 31 with MERCOSUR countries' ambassadors in 
Cairo. Rachid stated that MERCOSUR is considered the largest 
industrial and economic group in Latin America, and the fourth 
largest economic group in the world. An  agreement would pave the 
way for a large increase in the volume of trade between Egypt and 
the MERCOSUR countries (Al Ahram, 9/1/2009). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Debate over the Location of Egypt's First Nuclear Plant 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
3. (U) Scientists, engineers and businessmen disagree on the best 
location for Egypt's first nuclear power plant. On August 30, 
several nuclear scientists and engineers requested that President 
Hosni Mubarak intervene to stop the businessmen, who are involved in 
Egypt's tourism sector, from trying to take El Dabaa area (located 
in the northwest) away from the Nuclear Power Plants Authority 
(NPPA). Previous media accounts have stated El Dabaa is not a 
suitable location for a nuclear power plant and should instead be 
designated for business and tourism projects. On August 31, Yassen 
Ibrahim, the Chairman of NPPA, indicated that 70% of the site 
selection studies required by Australian consultant Worley Parsons 
have been completed.  He added that El Dabaa remains the best place 
for the power plant. If the site location is changed, the project 
would be delayed for more than three years. Tourism experts and 
businessmen such as Ibrahim Kamel, the chairman of KATO Investment 
(one of Egypt's large private companies with manufacturing, 
aerospace, real estate, tourism, and banking interests) noted that 
establishing tourism projects in this North Coast area would be more 
profitable than building a nuclear power plant. Fouad Sultan, former 
Minister of Tourism, explained that the choice of El Dabaa as the 
location for the first nuclear power plant was made 20 years ago, 
and that it is no longer feasible because of the increase in tourism 
in the area (Al Masry Al Youm, 8/31/2009, Al Ahali, 9/2/2009, Al 
Alam Al Youm, 9/2/2009). 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Suspending the Asset Management Program 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) The Ministry of Investment (MoI) is considering suspending 
its asset management program - a GoE administered plan where public 
companies would be sold but the government would retain a two-third 
stake in strategic companies such as aluminum, cement, 
pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers. In its place, the government would 
introduce a new system called "privatization derivatives". The 
derivatives include limited privatization, such as leasing and 
partially-selling assets and divesting from joint venture companies 
but do not involve selling off entire public companies. The MoI has 
already started using the privatization derivatives system in the 
business sector. Sources indicated the decision to suspend the sale 
of entire companies was not carefully studied. Media accounts also 
pointed out that the Minister of Investment still believes in the 
importance of having the asset management program, despite the need 
to privatize a significant number of public companies. 
Al Masry Al Youm, 8/31/2009). 
 
 
 
--------------------------- 
Oil Spill in the Suez Canal 
--------------------------- 
 
5. (U) On August 28, a Panama-flagged oil tanker broke in two as it 
traveled through the Red Sea Canal, spilling 60 tons of fuel.  The 
tanker was headed to the Suez Canal for maintenance work and was 
only carrying the 60 tons for its own usage.  By September 1, the 
Suez Canal Authority had towed the stricken tanker away from the 
southern entrance to the Suez Canal; normal shipping was not 
disrupted.  Ahmed Fadel, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said 
the ship did not severely pollute the area and was towed away from 
other ship moorings (All local newspapers, 8/28/2009, 9/2/2009). 
 
------------------------------------ 
Egyptian Natural Gas Goes to Lebanon 
------------------------------------ 
 
6. (U) On August 31, Sameh Fahmy, Minister of Petroleum, announced 
that Lebanon will begin receiving Egyptian natural gas through the 
Arab pipeline next month. He added that the gas would be exported to 
Lebanon via Syria in a pilot program on September 8 and will start 
pumping commercial quantities on September 15. The Lebanese Minister 
of Energy Alan Taparian indicated in May 2009 that Lebanon will 
receive 30 million cubic feet of natural gas via the Arab pipeline 
(Al Ahram, 9/2/2009). 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
GASC Imposes Strict Wheat Quality Specifications 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
7. (U) The General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) announced 
that it imposed strict quality specifications for its wheat 
purchases. GASC Vice Chairman Nomani Nomani stated that GASC 
increased the test weight requirement for US wheat from 58 lb/bushel 
to 58.5 lb/bushel and its minimum protein content requirement by 0.5 
percent to 9.5 percent. Nomani affirmed that these are normal 
procedure so that US origin specifications would match the 
specifications of wheat of other countries. He pointed out that 
Egypt requires a minimum protein content of 11.5 percent for Russian 
wheat and 11 percent for French wheat. GASC also spelt out a maximum 
cadmium and lead content of 0.2 percent and set pesticide and 
fumigation residues at a maximum of 0.1 percent for wheat of all 
origins. The new tender terms also state that bids should reflect 
the rules and regulations of Egyptian's quarantine services. The 
debate in Egypt over wheat quality became politically heated after 
the government rejected two Russian wheat shipments earlier this 
year over quality concerns (Al Masry Al Youm, 9/3/2009). 
 
Scobey