US embassy cable - 05CAIRO4379

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 004379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KPAL, EG, IS, Magen David Adom, MDA 
SUBJECT: MDA:  EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS SWISS ENVOY 
EGYPT "WILL NOT OPPOSE PROGRESS" ON SWISS EFFORTS TO 
CONVENE CONFERENCE 
 
REF: A. CAIRO 4262 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. AMMAN 4474 (NOTAL) 
     C. CAIRO 3842 
     D. CAIRO 3752 
     E. CAIRO 3178 (NOTAL) 
     F. CAIRO 2875 (NOTAL) 
     G. CAIRO 2515 (NOTAL) 
     H. CAIRO 2481 
     I. CAIRO 1798 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified by Acting DCM Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (C) According to the Swiss Embassy Deputy Chief of 
Mission, Heinz Walker, Ambassador Didier Pfirter received 
encouraging signals on the Third Protocol/Magen David Adom 
(MDA) issue during his June 7 meeting in Cairo with Egyptian 
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.  The Egyptian minister 
reportedly stated that he had instructed his mission in 
Geneva not to lead opposition within the Organization of 
Islamic Conferences to Swiss efforts on the Third 
Protocol/MDA issue, as "that was not Egypt's position." 
Egypt's position, Aboul Gheit clarified, "was not to take the 
lead in promoting the issue, but neither to oppose progress." 
 
 
2.  (C) Pfirter told Aboul Gheit that his Palestinian 
counterpart, Nasser Kidwah, had taken a constructive position 
on the issue during his last meeting.  The Palestinian 
reportedly said that the Palestinian Authority was not 
opposed to Swiss efforts and would base its position on MDA 
behavior within the occupied territories.  Pfirter also 
reportedly told Aboul Gheit that the Israeli MDA President 
had told Pfirter during a recent meeting in Israel that the 
MDA would only use its current symbol "within Israel."  Aboul 
Gheit made clear that such a declarative statement - received 
in writing from the MDA - would have a very positive impact 
on Egypt's position on this topic.  (Note:  Walker pointed 
out that while the Israeli's words were on the surface 
encouraging, the use of the words "within Israel," opened the 
complex and politically volatile question of just how to 
define that delineation.  End note.) 
 
3.  (C) Walker said that Pfirter had no other official 
meetings during his short stay in Cairo.  Asked if there had 
been any discussion between Pfirter and Aboul Gheit on 
linkages between the MDA issue and Swiss Envoy Ambassador 
Staehalin's separate report on the Fourth Geneva Convention 
(as reported ref B, and as mentioned in GOE press statement 
in paragraph 4 below), Walker denied that any discussion on 
this subject had taken place.  Walker said that MFA Assistant 
Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Fathallah 
(who joined the meeting with the Minister along with Cabinet 
Staff Members Ahmed Ezzat, Hala Al Ghanem, and Amr Rushdy), 
told Pfirter before the meeting that if Israel failed to 
withdraw from Gaza as scheduled, it would be very difficult 
for progress to be made on the Third Protocol/MDA issue. 
Despite that cautionary note, Walker said that Pfirter 
departed Egypt very encouraged by the outcome of his meeting 
with Aboul Gheit and that the Swiss envoy intended to 
continue his consultations with Arab states.  During their 
meeting, Aboul Gheit was overheard instructing his staff to 
arrange either a telephone conversation or meeting with 
Palestinian Foreign Minister Kidwah on the Third Protocol 
issue. 
 
4.  (U) Text of June 7 GOE Foreign Ministry press statement 
on Pfirter meeting (unofficial Embassy translation): 
 
Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit met today with Swiss Special 
Envoy Ambassador Didier Pfirter who briefed the Minister on 
Switzerland's efforts to hold a diplomatic conference of the 
countries that are party to the Geneva Conventions to discuss 
the issue of recognizing an additional neutral emblem to be 
used by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement around the world. 
 
The Minister expressed hope that regional circumstances would 
be suitable for holding such a conference and stressed the 
necessity of providing protection for the human relief 
organizations to be able to best carry out their missions. 
The Minister also praised the role played by Switzerland as 
the State depositor of the Geneva Conventions in enhancing 
the commitment to the provisions of these conventions. 
 
The Minister pointed to the UN General Assembly's resolution 
regarding the International Court of Justice advisory opinion 
on the separating wall and lauded the section of the 
resolution that assigns Switzerland to submit a report in 
this connection.  The Swiss Envoy underscored the importance 
of the issue and noted that the report would be issued within 
the next few weeks. 
 
End text of Egyptian MFA press statement. 
 
 
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GRAY