BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON MAGEN DAVID ADOM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000826 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF BA IS SZ ICRC SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE ON MAGEN DAVID ADOM REF: STATE 104272 Classified by A/DCM Helen H. Hahn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) Pol/Econ chief June 8 delivered reftel demarche on the proposed Swiss conference on adding the Magen David Adom (MDA) symbol to the International Red Cross Movement to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Shaikho said, "speaking as a friend of the U.S.," it is not a good idea to hold the conference at this time. The delegations attending would be forced to spell out their positions, and confrontations were inevitable. It is more important to have additional consultations on this issue and "buy time," and meanwhile the situation between Israel and the Palestinians could improve to the point where the Arab and Muslim countries could support adding the MDA symbol. Bahrain could not act independently of the Arab and Islamic blocks on this issue, Shaihko said. MONROE