US embassy cable - 05OTTAWA904

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