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