CANADA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON MDA AND PRESSING

C O N F I D E N T I A L OTTAWA 000904 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/MCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREF AORC IS GM CA ICRC MDA FAC SUBJECT: CANADA: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON MDA AND PRESSING THE SWISS GOVERNMENT TO CONVENE A CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 050642 ¶B. OTTAWA 747 Classified By: POLMINCOUNS Brian Flora, Reasons: 1.4 (b) (d) ¶1. (C) Poloff discussed ref a demarche concerning Magen David Adom (MDA) membership in the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, with Claudie Senay, Human Rights Officer at Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC),on March 24. As indicated ref b, Senay reiterated that Canada strongly supports the convening of a conference to consider this issue. ¶2. (C) According to Senay, FAC has requested more details from the Swiss on whether they intend to host a conference, but to this point, FAC has not heard anything more. Senay said that Canada believes that there is momentum for a conference, and agrees with our view that a "window of opportunity" exists, given recent events in the Middle East. Continuing, she also stated that FAC does not want to see the question of MDA membership linked to other issues involving the Middle East peace process. Senay indicated that FAC will continue to press the Swiss, as this is an important issue for Canada. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON