CANADA SUPPORTS MDA'S INCLUSION AND IS READY TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 003397 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF AORC IS SZ CA ICRC SUBJECT: CANADA SUPPORTS MDA'S INCLUSION AND IS READY TO LOBBY REF: SECSTATE 206948 Classified By: Pol M/C Brian Flora Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel on 15 November to Alexandra MacKenzie in the Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Response Group at Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC). ¶2. (C) MacKenzie emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of the Geneva conference, as well as the adoption by consensus of a more universal emblem that would pave the way for full MDA membership in the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement. She stressed that the protocol's adoption would enhance humanitarian action and effectiveness in places beyond the Middle East, including Sudan, Tajikstan and Eritrea, where the currently-used symbols detract from the humanitarian mandate of the organization. ¶3. (C) She stated that the GoC continues to work closely and in a supportive manner with the Government of Switzerland (GoS) and has recently asked the GoS for advise about ways to continue the positive momentum prior to the December conference. MacKenzie's FAC colleagues in Bern and Washington are meeting within the next few days with their counterparts to determine a plan of action. She expressed GoC's willingness to entertain both GoS requests as well as to those of the USG. ¶4. (C) Action Request: First, Post requests information from Washington that identifies OIC members who can influence a positive outcome on the protocol, in order that GoC lobbying efforts complement those of the USG, as well as those of Switzerland. Second, the GoC would like to know the composition of the US delegation to the Geneva Conference and will share the names of their delegates when available. Lastly, the GoC is interested in the status of the discussions between the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and how those discussions will influence the decisions of various OIC members. ¶5. (U) Post will pass along additional details from the GoC, as they become available. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS