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 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2005 > December 
Press Statement
Adam Ereli, Spokesman
Washington, DC
December 8, 2005


U.S. Welcomes Adoption of Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention

The United States welcomes the adoption in Geneva this morning of a Third Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The Protocol creates a new emblem in addition to the red cross and red crescent emblems currently in use. This is an important, historic development. The Protocol paves the way for Magen David Adom, Israel’s national society, to take up full membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is an important step toward the Movement’s goal of being truly universal.

The United States thanks the Swiss Government for its intensive diplomatic efforts to address this long-standing humanitarian issue. We also congratulate in particular the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Magen David Adom for concluding a Memorandum of Understanding and an operational agreement in advance of the conference, achievements which facilitated the adoption of the Third Protocol.

2005/1147

Released on December 8, 2005

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