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