SPAIN SUPPORTS CONSENSUS EFFORTS ON MDA MEMBERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 000980

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF IS RS CASC ASCH XG SP ICRC
SUBJECT: SPAIN SUPPORTS CONSENSUS EFFORTS ON MDA MEMBERSHIP
IN RED CROSS / RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT

REF: SECSTATE 32753

Classified By: Political Officer Robert Riley for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) Poloff discussed Magen David Adom (MDA) membership
in the Red Cross / Red Crescent movement ("the Movement") on
March 14 with Manuel Pombo, Ambassador at Large for
Humanitarian and Social Affairs. Spain strongly supports the
work of the Swiss government in trying to reach a consensus
on this issue. Pombo said that Spain agrees that the issue
of the MDA involvement should be considered on humanitarian
grounds and that disputes between Israel and Palestine should
not be considered in the membership process. He said that a
neutral logo would probably be the best solution for
everybody involved in the process on the question of the
organization's emblem. He indicated Spain would support a
consensus agreement worked out by the Swiss. He emphasized
that the Red Cross has always been independent and
non-political, including the MDA in Israel. Pombo said that
a consensus agreement on admitting the MDA is only half of
the solution; the practicalities on the ground, including
what logo to use on vehicles and with relief aid in disputed
areas, could be more difficult to resolve.


2. (C) COMMENT: Despite our efforts to pin him down, Pombo
avoided stating that Spain would unequivocally support MDA's
membership in the Movement. Nonetheless, given his remarks
about supporting a consensus, we think Spain will support
membership provided the Muslim countries' concerns are taken
into account in the consensus process.
MANZANARES