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.


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GRAY