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Red Cross sets international conference to approve new emblem |
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May 13, 2000 GENEVA,
MAY 12 (AP) - The international Red Cross movement has arranged a conference
in November that will pave the way for Israeli membership after more than 50
years, a spokesman said Friday.
Invitations
have been sent for the conference Nov. 14 of the 176 societies that belong
to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
said Ian Piper, the federation's chief spokesman.
By
approving a neutral third emblem for the movement, the conference is meant
to clear the way for Israel's Magen David Adom, or Red Shield of David, to
join the Red Cross movement.
It
will be preceded by a diplomatic conference of the 188 nations of the Geneva
Conventions, which likely will be held in October, to approve a new protocol
to the conventions, Piper said.
The
American Red Cross is protesting the society's continuing exclusion and is
withholding its dlrs 5 million basic annual dues to the international
federation pending resolution of the dispute.
The
international Red Cross wants to avoid "a proliferation of
emblems" and instead choose a single new symbol that could gain
international respect to protect medical and relief workers in war and other
dangerous situations.
The
Red Cross committee that on Thursday approved the international conference
will meet again June 15-16 to discuss forming a new, neutral emblem, Piper
said.
The
new emblem - probably a red diamond - could frame a different national
symbol, such as Israel's red star of David, or Kazakstan's combination of
the red cross and red crescent.
The
process of admitting the societies would follow the conference, Piper noted.
Israel,
the American Red Cross and U.S. government have voiced reservations about
the diplomatic process.
The
American Red Cross maintains that the international movement already can
recognize Magen David Adom and accept it as a voting member of the
federation after more than 50 years in observer status.
But international Red Cross leaders feared that route could get bogged down in legal and political challenges.
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