GAINING SUPPORT FROM EGYPT ON MAGON DAVID ADOM

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002481

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF EG IS SW ICRC
SUBJECT: GAINING SUPPORT FROM EGYPT ON MAGON DAVID ADOM
EMBLEM ISSUE

REF: A. STATE 54788


B. STATE 45505

C. CAIRO 2058

D. CAIRO 1798

E. STATE 31746

F. STATE 29327

Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) During a March 29 meeting with Ambassador Ahmed
Fathalla, MFA Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs,
the Acting DCM requested Egyptian support for a possible
Swiss-convened conference on a Third Protocol and inclusion
of Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) national society into the
Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. Noting that the Charge
d'Affaires would raise the same issue March 30 with the
Egyptian Foreign Minister, the Acting DCM emphasized the
importance of this issue to the USG.


2. (C) Fathalla and United Nations Office Director Hani
Saleem explained GOE views regarding the MDA issue. Largely
repeating earlier admonitions (ref B) that the Swiss direct
their energies at reconvening the "Friends of the Chair"
Group to discuss the MDA issue, Saleem noted that the GOE had
in the past worked through the Organization of Islamic
Conferences (OIC) bloc on the issue. Saleem stated that when
earlier negotiations on a Third Protocol had collapsed in
2000, "three or four" issues involving the emblem and other
technical items remained on the table to be worked out by
delegations in Geneva. Those issues, he claimed, needed to
be addressed for such a conference to be successful. The
Acting DCM stressed that the Swiss were interested in
positive political signals of support from key Arab states in
order to move forward. While technical details might have to
be addressed, it was important that Egypt show flexibility
and support in order to address this humanitarian issue.


3. (C) Fathalla responded that the GOE would consider its
position on the issue and asked whether the Swiss would be
approaching the GOE directly. He noted that the new Swiss
Ambassador had requested a courtesy call on Fathalla next
week. The Acting DCM noted our expectation that the Swiss
would raise this topic.


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GRAY