| Press Statement Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC November 7, 2005 U.S. Welcomes Swiss Announcement of Conference on Red Cross EmblemThe United States welcomes the Swiss Government’s announcement today that it will convene a diplomatic conference on December 5-6, 2005 to adopt a Third Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. If adopted, the Protocol will create a new, neutral emblem in addition to the red cross and red crescent emblems currently in use in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. This neutral emblem is an important step toward the Red Cross and Crescent Movement’s goal of being a truly universal humanitarian movement. The United States strongly supports diplomatic efforts that will lead to the full membership of the Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national society, in the International Red Cross and Crescent Movement. Israel has been a party to the Geneva Conventions since 1951 and we believe its national society should be recognized as a member of the Movement. We wish to thank the Swiss Government for its intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing this long-standing humanitarian issue. 2005/1044
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