MDA: EGYPT REMINDED OF IMPORTANCE OF MDA ISSUE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004820 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM IS EG ICRC SUBJECT: MDA: EGYPT REMINDED OF IMPORTANCE OF MDA ISSUE ON EVE OF OIC MINISTERIAL REF: A. STATE 118394 ¶B. CAIRO 4597 ¶C. CAIRO 4379 ¶D. CAIRO 4262 (NOTAL) ¶E. AMMAN 4474 ¶F. STATE 97599 (NOTAL) ¶G. CAIRO 3842 ¶H. CAIRO 3752 ¶I. CAIRO 3178 (NOTAL) ¶J. CAIRO 2875 (NOTAL) ¶K. CAIRO 2515 (NOTAL) ¶L. CAIRO 2481 ¶M. CAIRO 1798 (NOTAL) Classified by Economic-Political Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On June 26, PolOff shared ref A points with Amr Rushdy of the Foreign Minister's cabinet. Rushdy will travel with the Minister to Sanaa for the June 27 OIC ministerial and coordinates the Magen David Adom (MDA) issue as part of his portfolio. Familiar with the U.S. position on MDA inclusion, Rushdy confirmed the Egyptian position noted reftels that the GOE would not take the lead in promoting MDA's participation, but also would not oppose it. PolOff emphasized the importance of cooperation in creating a positive atmosphere in the Middle East and noted that a resolution that might detract from that cooperation would be unhelpful. ¶2. (C) Rushdy said the OIC resolution opposing a diplomatic conference on the Third Additional Protocol "will be submitted." He questioned whether any OIC member could openly object to it, or publicly support the conference on the Third Additional Protocol. He added that "this resolution was triggered by Ambassador Pfirter himself," describing how the OIC group in Geneva had approached the Ambassador in an effort to reach an accommodation on the MDA issue. Ambassador Pfirter had reportedly replied to a "mild" OIC note citing the need for more deliberation with a "very unhelpful" comment that he would deal only with individual countries, not the OIC. "I don't care about the OIC, only individual countries," was the quote reportedly circulated among OIC participants in that exchange. The OIC subsequently assembled an expert level group in Geneva to study the issue and help prepare a resolution text. Rushdy said that, with this background, it would be particularly difficult for any OIC member to "oppose it publicly." ¶3. (C) Further describing the mechanism for OIC deliberations, Rushdy said members would be given the texts of 87 resolutions for consideration in Sanaa. Addressing that number of issues in a brief conference often meant adopting multiple reservations simply by asking whether any member had objection to resolutions "one through 10," for example. He did not envision anyone challenging this particular resolution. ¶4. (C) PolOff also discussed the MDA in the context of the OIC ministerial with Arab League Spokesman Hossam Zaki on June 26. The League is only an observer at the OIC (and will be represented at the Assistant Secretary General level),yet PolOff stressed the need to encourage a cooperative mood. Zaki reiterated concerns reported ref B. 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