FRENCH RESPONSE TO U/S BURNS LETTER ON RED CROSS

UNCLAS PARIS 005135 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF OPDC PREL FR SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO U/S BURNS LETTER ON RED CROSS EMBLEM ISSUE REF: STATE 135632 ¶1. Post delivered U/S Burns' letter to MFA political Director Stanislas de Laboulaye July 22. We also provided a copy to MFA IO Social and Humanitarian Affairs DAS-equivalent Beatrice le Fraper du Hellen the same day. ¶2. Fraper contacted poloff July 25 to say that she was preparing the response for Laboulaye's signature and would fax the reply to us as soon as it was signed. Meanwhile, she stated, the GoF had no major difference with the USG on this issue. Fraper said that the MFA had been working over the weekend with the Swiss to try to help them with regard to the organization of a diplomatic conference on the issue. ¶3. Post will forward the text of the formal GoF response as soon as we receive it. STAPLETON