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. Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. GRAY