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