MDA: SWISS PERMREP DESCRIBES PLANS FOR SEPT 12-13

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 GENEVA 002058

SIPDIS

PRM FOR PDAS GREENE, L FOR BELLINGER, NEA FOR ISRAEL DESK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2010
TAGS: PREL KPAL EG IS ICRC MDA
SUBJECT: MDA: SWISS PERMREP DESCRIBES PLANS FOR SEPT 12-13
"INFORMALS"

Classified By: Ambassador Kevin Moley; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In a meeting with Ambassador Moley, Swiss
PermRep Blaise Godet described planning for the Sept 12-13
informal consultations on an additional emblem. Godet
touched on his outreach plans prior to the consultations,
Swiss thinking on the structure of the consultations, and
possible outcomes/next steps and provided a draft information
note. While reflecting the same determined attitude that
Swiss State Secretary Ambuhl has in recent conversations with
Under-Secretary Dobriansky, Godet highlighted the need for "a
plan B" if the Sept 12-13 consultations do not go smoothly,
not ruling out either a second set of consultations or an
extension of time beyond October. He also said Israel must
consider how to address Arab requests for some clarity on the
issue of where MDA will operate. End Summary.


2. (C) Swiss PermRep Blaise Godet requested a meeting with
Ambassador Moley August 30, to describe Swiss planning as we
move into the last two weeks of preparation for the Sept
12-13 informal consultations on an additional emblem for the
Red Cross/Crescent movement. Godet was accompanied by Swiss
Ambassador-at-large on the Emblem Didier Pfirter. Moley was
joined by DCM Lynn Cassel and RMA Counselor Piper Campbell.
Godet described his outreach plans prior to the
consultations. In addition to meeting with us, Godet was
scheduled to meet August 30 with UK Permrep Thorne. Godet
said he would try to persuade the UK that the emblem issue
(and the Geneva Conventions generally) do not fall within the
area of EU competence. Countries should make individual
statements. Godet understood the UK would not stand in the
way of this, but he had heard that some smaller (and newer)
EU member states were arguing for a coordinated position.


3. (C) Godet also planned to meet the Israeli Ambassador
August 30. Godet said he would try to dissuade the Israeli
Ambassador from asking for a separate speaking role for the
Chairman of the MDA. Israel, like other delegations, could
include a rep of the national society in the delegation;
however, asking for a special role for MDA would be
"counterproductive." He also said Israel must consider what
can be done to address Arab requests for some clarity on the
issue of where MDA will operate. According to Didier
Pfirter, MDA-Palestinian Red Crescent operational issues will
be discussed in a September 4 meeting of the two national
societies -- in addition to a meeting under the auspices of
Dr. Al-Hadid of the Jordanian Red Crescent which we had
understood was planned for late September in Geneva.
Counselor Campbell commented that our approach all-along has
been to push for the emblem as a humanitarian issue and to
try to separate the discussion from political developments.
She argued for maintaining the practical approach of leaving
it primarily to the two national societies to work out their
operational cooperation, without too much pressure from
states. Another issue which the Israelis should expect to
come up during the consultations is the wall, according to
Godet. As the Chair, Godet said, he would oppose any linkage
but there was a limit to how much he could steer the
proceedings.


4. (C) Godet mentioned Malaysia, Syria, Egypt and the
Palestinians as the entities most likely to vociferously
oppose moving forward during the consultations. The Swiss
informal tally is 40 "yes", 20 "no", and 10 "yes if
consensus." Key to maintaining momentum is keeping any
country from speaking on behalf of the OIC block.


5. (C) Godet provided a draft information note (reproduced
in para 6 below) which will be sent out to Geneva missions
this week. He said he would open the session, followed by
introductory remarks by Standing Commission Chair Al-Hadid.
There would then be a period of general debate. At the end,
the Chair would make his own summary, without soliciting
input on phrasing from the room. ICRC President Kellenberger
-- who has been one of the strongest advocates for moving
forward now -- would not have a planned speaking role but
would be held in reserve. While Godet affirmed that he would
proactively lead the discussions and hope for a positive
outcome, he said Swiss officials believe they need "a plan B"
if the Sept 12-13 consultations do not go smoothly. He did
not rule out either a second set of consultations or an
extension of the calendar beyond October 27-28 -- but he also
emphasized Swiss recognition that leaking any thinking along
these lines would sabotage all hopes for progress in early
September. Godet added that Swiss FM Calmy-Rey planned to
make emblem diplomacy a core focus of her many meetings in
New York in the margins of the UN High Level segment.


6. (SBU) DRAFT SWISS INFO NOTE

The Swiss Mission has the honour to refer to the general note
regarding the issue of an additional Emblem for the Geneva
Conventions which it circulated to Geneva Missions on July 27
and the invitation to informal discussions on the modalities
of a Diplomatic Conference contained therein.

As announced in that note, the informal discussions will take
place at the International Labour Office building, 4, route
des Morillons, on 12 and 13 September, starting at 10 am on
12 September. It is suggested that State Parties participate
at the level of their Permanent Representative to
International Organisations in Geneva. The discussions will
be chaired by the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to
International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Blaise
Godet.

Firstly, the Mission would like to provide you with some
technical information:

- The meeting will take place in the "Salle du Conseil"
of the International Labour Office building, from 10am to 1pm
and 3pm to 6pm.

- Delegates with a driver may use the entrance. Delegates
who need to park their
car may do so in and use entrance

- Delegates will be required to exchange their ID against
a Day-Pass at the entry of the ILO. To this effect it is
suggested, that they bring either their UN access pass or
their national passport.

- Delegates will be able to eat lunch at the ILO
restaurant, situated on ... floor.

- As the meeting is one of informal discussions outside
the framework of the United
Nations, translation will be provided in French and English
only (this is without
prejudice to the translation during the Diplomatic Conference
which will be provided in
all six UN languages in accordance with established practice).

- For organisational reasons, the Depositary would like
to request Missions to kindly
reply with the attached form as to who will participate in
the discussions.

Several Missions have enquired about the subject(s) of the
discussion and an agenda. The Depositary has in the above
mentioned note circumscribed the subject of the discussions
as "modalities of the Conference", in view of the fact that
there is virtually no opposition to the adoption of the
additional Protocol in principle. Swiss Embassies have
explained in capitals that the Depositary understands the
term "modalities" in a broad sense, i.e. all relevant
conditions and circumstances, including the question of the
necessity of a Preparatory meeting.

Given this concept, the Depositary would not like to
constrain the discussion with a very
precise agenda, but rather suggest three points only:


1. Introduction by the Chair of the discussions and the
President of the Standing
Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement

2. General Debate (3 minutes per delegation)

3. Follow up

Bearing in mind that the subject of the discussion is a
Diplomatic Conference on the Adoption of an Additional
Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, i.e. a Treaty making body
outside the framework of the United Nations, the Depositary
would like to encourage States Parties to make individual
rather that group Statements as is customary in treaty
making. The Depositary appeals to all Parties to participate
in the process with a sense of cooperation and mutual
understanding commensurate with the nature and purpose of the
humanitarian Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

End Text.
Moley