MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE ON ADVANCING THE PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004262 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL EG IS SUBJECT: MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE ON ADVANCING THE PEACE PROCESS: EGYPT CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS REF: STATE 97599 (NOTAL) Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Post delivered reftel demarche to MFA Cabinet Staff Member Mohamed Aboulkheir June 6 stressing the importance to the USG of progress in the regional peace process. Drawing from reftel talking points, poloff highlighted three areas where we believe such progress could be implemented: expanding diplomatic and social contacts between Arabs and Israelis, closing the Arab League's Boycott Office in Damascus, and accepting Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) national society into the international Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. Aboulkheir, responsible for American Affairs on the Foreign Minsiter's personal staff, promised to share the demarche internally. On the subject of Israel's MDA membership and Swiss efforts to convene an international conference on a Third Protocol, Aboulkheir said that he was unaware of any change in Egypt's position on the subject. Nevertheless, Aboulkheir confirmed that Swiss Envoy Didier Pfirter would meet the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo to discuss the subject June 7. Post will seek readouts of the meetings from both the Swiss and the MFA and will report the outcome in septel. Post will also report demarche to Arab League septel. 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 #4262