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.


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GRAY