PRESSING THE MAGEN DAVID ADOM ISSUE: SWISS ENVOY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002875 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF KPAL EG IS SW ICRC IFRC SUBJECT: PRESSING THE MAGEN DAVID ADOM ISSUE: SWISS ENVOY TO ENGAGE, EGYPTIAN RED CRESCENT DIRECTOR OPTIMISTIC REF: A. GENEVA 811 (NOTAL) ¶B. CAIRO 2515 ¶C. STATE 58651 (NOTAL) ¶D. STATE 54788 (NOTAL) ¶E. BERN 459 (NOTAL) ¶F. CAIRO 1798 ¶G. AMMAN 1826 Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We learned from our Swiss Embassy contacts April 12 that the new Swiss Ambassador raised the issue of an international conference and the Third Protocol during an introductory meeting April 7 with MFA Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Ahmed Fathalla. The senior Egyptian official provided the Swiss with a similar response as that given to us (refs B and F). Upping the pressure, the Swiss are sending their newly-appointed Project Director for the Third Protocol conference issue (ref A),Didier Pfirter, to Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in the coming weeks to press key Arab governments to move forward on convening an international conference and addressing membership for the Magen David Adom (MDA) society in the international Red Cross Red Crescent movement. Pfirter is expected to meet April 19-20 with Egyptian MFA officials, Arab League officials, and the Secretary General of the Egyptian Red Crescent Mamduh Gabr. SIPDIS We also understand that Pfirter has already been making his case via consultations with Arab missions in Geneva, including Egypt's, although this visit will be his first to the region in his new capacity. ¶2. (C) Coincidentally, poloff called on Egyptian Red Crescent Secretary General Gabr April 6 to discuss the MDA issue. Gabr was careful to draw a line between his "non-governmental organization" and the GOE in terms of the diplomatic steps necessary to deal with the Third Protocol issue. Still, he was optimistic that the issue could be successfully addressed by interested governments, despite widespread feeling in the region that the time was not right given the desperate humanitarian situation for Palestinians in the occupied territories. Gabr said that he would inform the Egyptian Red Crescent Chair Suzanne Mubarak (wife of President Mubarak) about the USG interest in addressing the issue. Note: Gabr has considerable contacts around the region and, despite his low-key demeanor, may play a useful role -- particularly if other Arab representatives engage him. End note. 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