MDA:FRENCH RESPONSE ON CONFERENCE FOR MDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001515 SIPDIS GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF IS FR ICRC SUBJECT: MDA:FRENCH RESPONSE ON CONFERENCE FOR MDA MEMBERSHIP IN RED CROSS/RED CRESCENT MOVEMENT REF: STATE 32753 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff presented reftel talking points to MFA IO Middle East expert Alice Guitton February 25. On March 4, during a discussion of Israeli participation in other international organizations (septel),MFA DAS-equivalent Jean-Pierre Lacroix told us that France favored Magen David Adom (MDA) joining the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and that a diplomatic conference to address the issue was under consideration. ¶2. (C) Lacroix anticipated that there would be resistance from some Arab countries, but said that representatives at the conference from countries favorable to MDA's membership could work together on the issue. Leach