MDA: FRENCH RESPONSE TO SWISS CIRCULAR NOTE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 004042 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 TAGS: AORC PHUM PREF PREL IS SZ FR ICRC SUBJECT: MDA: FRENCH RESPONSE TO SWISS CIRCULAR NOTE ON CONFERENCE FOR THIRD ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL REF: STATE 104272 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff raised the issue of support for convening a diplomatic conference in October to adopt a Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions June 7 with Beatrice le Fraper du Hellen, MFA IO DAS-equivalent for human rights and humanitarian issues. After consulting with MFA IO Director Ripert, Fraper replied that the GoF had no difficulty on the suggested approach on the new, additional emblem for the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. ¶2. (C) Pressed on France's response to the Swiss circular note, Fraper said that the GoF had responded orally to the Swiss, telling them that a formal response would follow as the GoF was still studying the rules of procedure. She added that the GoF had a specific problem on the proposed protocol, not related to the issue of the emblem, on article 5. She said that the proposed language on "operations under the auspices of the UN" should be more specific, suggesting "operations established by the UN." She closed by indicating that was France's only difficulty with the proposed protocol. WOLFF