MAGEN DAVID ADOM ISSUE: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002515 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF EG IS SW ICRC SUBJECT: MAGEN DAVID ADOM ISSUE: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMITS TO "STUDY, RESEARCH, AND TRY TO HELP" REF: A. CAIRO 2481 ¶B. STATE 54788 (NOTAL) ¶C. CAIRO 2058 (NOTAL) ¶D. CAIRO 1798 (NOTAL) ¶E. STATE 31746 (NOTAL) Classified by Charge Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Charge met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit March 30 to press the GOE to support a Swiss diplomatic conference on bringing Israel's Magen David Adom society into the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. (Other topics are reported septel/NOTAL.) Drawing on the points contained in refs B and E, the Charge noted that the Government of Egypt had been actively involved in preparations for a conference in 2000 and played a helpful role. The conference did not occur in 2000 because of regional developments. Times have changed, however, and the time is now right to hold the conference. This issue is a humanitarian one, the Charge continued, and is important to the Secretary. The Charge asked the Foreign Minister to support the Swiss conference, and urged him to signal Egyptian support to the Swiss Government. ¶2. (C) Aboul Gheit answered that he had received a short briefing on the topic immediately before the meeting with the Charge (due to the Acting DCM's March 29 demarche reported in ref A). Stating that he would respond formally at a later date, Aboul Gheit suggested that the Embassy continue its consultations with foreign ministry staff. Concluding, he said Egypt would "work within the (Organization of Islamic Conferences) group," and that he would "study, research, and try to help" on this issue. ¶3. (C) Later the same day, poloff told the Swiss Embassy political officer that it would be helpful for the new Swiss Ambassador to raise the issue when he meets with the Egyptian Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs next week (ref A). Our initial soundings with the Israeli Embassy in Cairo indicated that it is not yet engaged with Egypt on this topic. Our next intended contact will be with the head of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to determine what feedback he has received from his government and other Arabs on this issue. 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