MDA: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS SWISS ENVOY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004379

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAL EG IS MDA
SUBJECT: MDA: EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS SWISS ENVOY
EGYPT "WILL NOT OPPOSE PROGRESS" ON SWISS EFFORTS TO
CONVENE CONFERENCE

REF: A. CAIRO 4262 (NOTAL)


B. AMMAN 4474 (NOTAL)

C. CAIRO 3842

D. CAIRO 3752

E. CAIRO 3178 (NOTAL)

F. CAIRO 2875 (NOTAL)

G. CAIRO 2515 (NOTAL)

H. CAIRO 2481

I. CAIRO 1798 (NOTAL)

Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) According to the Swiss Embassy Deputy Chief of
Mission, Heinz Walker, Ambassador Didier Pfirter received
encouraging signals on the Third Protocol/Magen David Adom
(MDA) issue during his June 7 meeting in Cairo with Egyptian
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The Egyptian minister
reportedly stated that he had instructed his mission in
Geneva not to lead opposition within the Organization of
Islamic Conferences to Swiss efforts on the Third
Protocol/MDA issue, as "that was not Egypt's position."
Egypt's position, Aboul Gheit clarified, "was not to take the
lead in promoting the issue, but neither to oppose progress."



2. (C) Pfirter told Aboul Gheit that his Palestinian
counterpart, Nasser Kidwah, had taken a constructive position
on the issue during his last meeting. The Palestinian
reportedly said that the Palestinian Authority was not
opposed to Swiss efforts and would base its position on MDA
behavior within the occupied territories. Pfirter also
reportedly told Aboul Gheit that the Israeli MDA President
had told Pfirter during a recent meeting in Israel that the
MDA would only use its current symbol "within Israel." Aboul
Gheit made clear that such a declarative statement - received
in writing from the MDA - would have a very positive impact
on Egypt's position on this topic. (Note: Walker pointed
out that while the Israeli's words were on the surface
encouraging, the use of the words "within Israel," opened the
complex and politically volatile question of just how to
define that delineation. End note.)


3. (C) Walker said that Pfirter had no other official
meetings during his short stay in Cairo. Asked if there had
been any discussion between Pfirter and Aboul Gheit on
linkages between the MDA issue and Swiss Envoy Ambassador
Staehalin's separate report on the Fourth Geneva Convention
(as reported ref B, and as mentioned in GOE press statement
in paragraph 4 below),Walker denied that any discussion on
this subject had taken place. Walker said that MFA Assistant
Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Fathallah
(who joined the meeting with the Minister along with Cabinet
Staff Members Ahmed Ezzat, Hala Al Ghanem, and Amr Rushdy),
told Pfirter before the meeting that if Israel failed to
withdraw from Gaza as scheduled, it would be very difficult
for progress to be made on the Third Protocol/MDA issue.
Despite that cautionary note, Walker said that Pfirter
departed Egypt very encouraged by the outcome of his meeting
with Aboul Gheit and that the Swiss envoy intended to
continue his consultations with Arab states. During their
meeting, Aboul Gheit was overheard instructing his staff to
arrange either a telephone conversation or meeting with
Palestinian Foreign Minister Kidwah on the Third Protocol
issue.


4. (U) Text of June 7 GOE Foreign Ministry press statement
on Pfirter meeting (unofficial Embassy translation):

Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit met today with Swiss Special
Envoy Ambassador Didier Pfirter who briefed the Minister on
Switzerland's efforts to hold a diplomatic conference of the
countries that are party to the Geneva Conventions to discuss
the issue of recognizing an additional neutral emblem to be
used by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement around the world.

The Minister expressed hope that regional circumstances would
be suitable for holding such a conference and stressed the
necessity of providing protection for the human relief
organizations to be able to best carry out their missions.
The Minister also praised the role played by Switzerland as
the State depositor of the Geneva Conventions in enhancing
the commitment to the provisions of these conventions.

The Minister pointed to the UN General Assembly's resolution
regarding the International Court of Justice advisory opinion
on the separating wall and lauded the section of the
resolution that assigns Switzerland to submit a report in
this connection. The Swiss Envoy underscored the importance
of the issue and noted that the report would be issued within
the next few weeks.

End text of Egyptian MFA press statement.


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GRAY