US embassy cable - 05GENEVA2058

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 GENEVA 002058 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PRM FOR PDAS GREENE, L FOR BELLINGER, NEA FOR ISRAEL DESK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2010 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, EG, IS, ICRC, MDA 
SUBJECT: MDA: SWISS PERMREP DESCRIBES PLANS FOR SEPT 12-13 
"INFORMALS" 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kevin Moley; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  In a meeting with Ambassador Moley, Swiss 
PermRep Blaise Godet described planning for the Sept 12-13 
informal consultations on an additional emblem.  Godet 
touched on his outreach plans prior to the consultations, 
Swiss thinking on the structure of the consultations, and 
possible outcomes/next steps and provided a draft information 
note.  While reflecting the same determined attitude that 
Swiss State Secretary Ambuhl has in recent conversations with 
Under-Secretary Dobriansky, Godet highlighted the need for "a 
plan B" if the Sept 12-13 consultations do not go smoothly, 
not ruling out either a second set of consultations or an 
extension of time beyond October.  He also said Israel must 
consider how to address Arab requests for some clarity on the 
issue of where MDA will operate.   End Summary. 
 
2. (C) Swiss PermRep Blaise Godet requested a meeting with 
Ambassador Moley August 30, to describe Swiss planning as we 
move into the last two weeks of preparation for the Sept 
12-13 informal consultations on an additional emblem for the 
Red Cross/Crescent movement.  Godet was accompanied by Swiss 
Ambassador-at-large on the Emblem Didier Pfirter.  Moley was 
joined by DCM Lynn Cassel and RMA Counselor Piper Campbell. 
Godet described his outreach plans prior to the 
consultations.  In addition to meeting with us, Godet was 
scheduled to meet August 30 with UK Permrep Thorne.  Godet 
said he would try to persuade the UK that the emblem issue 
(and the Geneva Conventions generally) do not fall within the 
area of EU competence.  Countries should make individual 
statements.  Godet understood the UK would not stand in the 
way of this, but he had heard that some smaller (and newer) 
EU member states were arguing for a coordinated position. 
 
3. (C) Godet also planned to meet the Israeli Ambassador 
August 30.  Godet said he would try to dissuade the Israeli 
Ambassador from asking for a separate speaking role for the 
Chairman of the MDA.  Israel, like other delegations, could 
include a rep of the national society in the delegation; 
however, asking for a special role for MDA would be 
"counterproductive."  He also said Israel must consider what 
can be done to address Arab requests for some clarity on the 
issue of where MDA will operate.  According to Didier 
Pfirter, MDA-Palestinian Red Crescent operational issues will 
be discussed in a September 4 meeting of the two national 
societies -- in addition to a meeting under the auspices of 
Dr. Al-Hadid of the Jordanian Red Crescent which we had 
understood was planned for late September in Geneva. 
Counselor Campbell commented that our approach all-along has 
been to push for the emblem as a humanitarian issue and to 
try to separate the discussion from political developments. 
She argued for maintaining the practical approach of leaving 
it primarily to the two national societies to work out their 
operational cooperation, without too much pressure from 
states.  Another issue which the Israelis should expect to 
come up during the consultations is the wall, according to 
Godet.  As the Chair, Godet said, he would oppose any linkage 
but there was a limit to how much he could steer the 
proceedings. 
 
4. (C)  Godet mentioned Malaysia, Syria, Egypt and the 
Palestinians as the entities most likely to vociferously 
oppose moving forward during the consultations.  The Swiss 
informal tally is 40 "yes", 20 "no", and 10 "yes if 
consensus."  Key to maintaining momentum is keeping any 
country from speaking on behalf of the OIC block. 
 
5. (C)  Godet provided a draft information note (reproduced 
in para 6 below) which will be sent out to Geneva missions 
this week.  He said he would open the session, followed by 
introductory remarks by Standing Commission Chair Al-Hadid. 
There would then be a period of general debate.  At the end, 
the Chair would make his own summary, without soliciting 
input on phrasing from the room.  ICRC President Kellenberger 
-- who has been one of the strongest advocates for moving 
forward now -- would not have a planned speaking role but 
would be held in reserve.  While Godet affirmed that he would 
proactively lead the discussions and hope for a positive 
outcome, he said Swiss officials believe they need "a plan B" 
if the Sept 12-13 consultations do not go smoothly.  He did 
not rule out either a second set of consultations or an 
extension of the calendar beyond October 27-28 -- but he also 
emphasized Swiss recognition that leaking any thinking along 
these lines would sabotage all hopes for progress in early 
September.  Godet added that Swiss FM Calmy-Rey planned to 
make emblem diplomacy a core focus of her many meetings in 
New York in the margins of the UN High Level segment. 
 
6. (SBU) DRAFT SWISS INFO NOTE 
 
The Swiss Mission has the honour to refer to the general note 
regarding the issue of an additional Emblem for the Geneva 
Conventions which it circulated to Geneva Missions on July 27 
and the invitation to informal discussions on the modalities 
of a Diplomatic Conference contained therein. 
 
As announced in that note, the informal discussions will take 
place at the International Labour Office building, 4, route 
des Morillons, on 12 and 13 September, starting at 10 am on 
12 September. It is suggested that State Parties participate 
at the level of their Permanent Representative to 
International Organisations in Geneva. The discussions will 
be chaired by the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to 
International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Blaise 
Godet. 
 
Firstly, the Mission would like to provide you with some 
technical information: 
 
-     The meeting will take place in the "Salle du Conseil" 
of the International Labour Office building, from 10am to 1pm 
and 3pm to 6pm. 
 
-     Delegates with a driver may use the entrance. Delegates 
who need to park their 
car may do so in  and use entrance 
 
-     Delegates will be required to exchange their ID against 
a Day-Pass at the entry of the ILO. To this effect it is 
suggested, that they bring either their UN access pass or 
their national passport. 
 
-     Delegates will be able to eat lunch at the ILO 
restaurant, situated on ... floor. 
 
-     As the meeting is one of informal discussions outside 
the framework of the United 
Nations, translation will be provided in French and English 
only (this is without 
prejudice to the translation during the Diplomatic Conference 
which will be provided in 
all six UN languages in accordance with established practice). 
 
-     For organisational reasons, the Depositary would like 
to request Missions to kindly 
reply with the attached form as to who will participate in 
the discussions. 
 
Several Missions have enquired about the subject(s) of the 
discussion and an agenda. The Depositary has in the above 
mentioned note circumscribed the subject of the discussions 
as "modalities of the Conference", in view of the fact that 
there is virtually no opposition to the adoption of the 
additional Protocol in principle. Swiss Embassies have 
explained in capitals that the Depositary understands the 
term "modalities" in a broad sense, i.e. all relevant 
conditions and circumstances, including the question of the 
necessity of a Preparatory meeting. 
 
Given this concept, the Depositary would not like to 
constrain the discussion with a very 
precise agenda, but rather suggest three points only: 
 
1.    Introduction by the Chair of the discussions and the 
President of the Standing 
            Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 
Movement 
2.    General Debate (3 minutes per delegation) 
3.    Follow up 
 
Bearing in mind that the subject of the discussion is a 
Diplomatic Conference on the Adoption of an Additional 
Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, i.e. a Treaty making body 
outside the framework of the United Nations, the Depositary 
would like to encourage States Parties to make individual 
rather that group Statements as is customary in treaty 
making. The Depositary appeals to all Parties to participate 
in the process with a sense of cooperation and mutual 
understanding commensurate with the nature and purpose of the 
humanitarian Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 
 
End Text. 
Moley