US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4262

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, EG, IS, Arab League, Peace, Magen David Adom 
SUBJECT: MESSAGE TO THE ARAB LEAGUE ON ADVANCING THE PEACE 
PROCESS:  EGYPT CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 97599 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by ECPO Counselor John Desrocher for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
(C) Post delivered reftel demarche to MFA Cabinet Staff 
Member Mohamed Aboulkheir June 6 stressing the importance to 
the USG of progress in the regional peace process.  Drawing 
from reftel talking points, poloff highlighted three areas 
where we believe such progress could be implemented: 
expanding diplomatic and social contacts between Arabs and 
Israelis, closing the Arab League's Boycott Office in 
Damascus, and accepting Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) 
national society into the international Red Cross/Red 
Crescent Movement.  Aboulkheir, responsible for American 
Affairs on the Foreign Minsiter's personal staff, promised to 
share the demarche internally.  On the subject of Israel's 
MDA membership and Swiss efforts to convene an international 
conference on a Third Protocol, Aboulkheir said that he was 
unaware of any change in Egypt's position on the subject. 
Nevertheless, Aboulkheir confirmed that Swiss Envoy Didier 
Pfirter would meet the Egyptian Foreign Minister in Cairo to 
discuss the subject June 7.  Post will seek readouts of the 
meetings from both the Swiss and the MFA and will report the 
outcome in septel.  Post will also report demarche to Arab 
League septel. 
 
 
Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. 
 
GRAY 
 
#4262