Warm congratulations and thanks to Juan Manuel del Toro and Prof. Mattei for associating the ICRC with this commemoration.
It gives me pleasure to celebrate this day with your Governing Board because the ICRC appreciates the cooperation with the International Federation and its member National Societies. We have, as a network, the potential to respond effectively to humanitarian needs. To make such a large network function is however not a small thing.
A predictable and reliable organisation and coordination are needed, implying the respect of the rules we have given to ourselves, coupled with a collaborative spirit, based on an attitude of mutual respect for each other's competences and tasks and loyalty. While frictions are part of life and no drama, there is no good cooperation without trust and there is no trust without transparency.
My feeling is we did quite well in recent years given the complexities of our network and the different challenges its components are faced with.
We have many common challenges to meet where we can and should support each other. And there are encouraging examples. Let's take security of humanitarian personnel in the field, especially in the framework of armed conflict. We are living the painful experience in the Philippines where one staff member remains hostage. We are managing the situation as well as we can with the invaluable support of the Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross society engaged tirelessly alongside the ICRC.
As the two international components of the Movement, the International Federation and the ICRC have special responsibilities and roles. We owe it to those in need, we owe it to the National Societies, we owe it to the Movement as a whole to work together efficiently and in transparency.
The ICRC remains as determined as ever to assume its mission in close cooperation with the components of the Movement and partners outside the Movement provided they share our understanding of independent, neutral and impartial humanitarian action. I returned yesterday afternoon from Pakistan where I witnessed with satisfaction the excellent cooperation between the Pakistan Red Crescent Society and the ICRC in the armed conflict area in the North Western Frontier Province.
Our ambition will remain to do what we say in the theatres of armed conflict and other forms of violence around the world, sometimes pretty alone in difficult contexts. We shall continue to work in close partnership with operating National Societies, participating National Societies and the International Federation as the case may be. We shall be loyal partners and expect loyalty from our partners. Recent and present ICRC operations together with National Societies have helped optimize the complementarity with National Societies thereby achieving a greater humanitarian impact than we could have achieved or could achieve alone.
The strengthening of operational cooperation with National Societies working within their own countries is an important element of our strategy 2007-2010. I also wish to express my gratitude to National Societies working outside their country with whom we have developed ambitious partnership agreements.
We look forward to the upcoming statutory meetings at the end of this year. There is, with the Movement Policy on Internal Displacement and the Federation Policy on Migration, an opportunity for the Movement to develop a global response to the specific vulnerabilities of populations leaving or being forced to leave their homes. We appreciate the constructive spirit in which experts of the National Societies, the International Federation and the ICRC are working together.
The ICRC also welcomes the progress achieved in the implementation of the 10 year Restoring Family Links Strategy, implementation in which the International Federation has an important role to play.
Working together in these and other fields is of help in ensuring that the Movement remains a leading humanitarian network making a difference for those in need of assistance and protection.
It may be of interest to you also to know that the ICRC is faced with important challenges in the field of international humanitarian law. In short: the notion of "direct participation in hostilities" has to be clarified (our guidance will be published soon), an up to date and consolidated reading of Common Article 3 is urgent and we have to make up our minds on the pros and cons of further codification as far as international humanitarian law is concerned, in particular the law applicable to non-international armed conflicts. The need for it seems well established to me.
Once more: warm congratulations to the International Federation. Mais je souhaite aussi m'adresser plus particulièrement à nos hôtes, la Croix Rouge Française, une des premières sociétés nationales à travailler avec le CICR pour donner naissance au Mouvement. Elle a également aidé à promouvoir la croissance du Mouvement en organisant le première Conférence internationale à Paris en 1867. Et la Croix Rouge française était une des sociétés nationales qui ont inspiré la création de la Fédération internationale, il y a 90 ans, ici à Paris. Sur une note plus personnelle je souhaite aussi remercier le Prof. Mattei pour l'accueil chaleureux qu'il me réserve toujours.
Mi última palabra va al Presidente de la Federacion Internacional Juan Manuel del Toro. Ya es bien conocido en el Movimiento que nos entendemos bien, que cooperamos bien y que vemos las cosas que importan de un modo muy similar. No nos gusta ni nos interesa la burocrácia y la competencia estéril, nos interesa la acción humanitaria, el valor humanitario añadido de nuestro trabajo. Juan Manuel es más que un collega con quien he trabajado bien, durante ocho años, es un amigo. Y no utilizo este término con frecuencia y de un modo inflacionista. Te agradezco.
Los mejores deseos del CICR accompañan a la Federacion Internactional y a sus miembros para el futuro. Pueden contar con el apoyo leal del CICR como el CICR está contando con su cooperación leal y todo esto en el interés de las mujeres, de los niños y de los hombres que necesitan nuestra protección y nuestra assistance. Gracias.
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Geneva, 14 April 2009
Mr. Chairman,
On the occasion of the 62nd Anniversary of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), I wish to convey the cordial congratulations of the International Committee if the Red Cross (ICRC) to all members, volunteers and staff of your National Society.
Over the years, the ICRC has seen how the PNRC has grown into an efficient and indispensable humanitarian organization, with dedicated volunteers serving the most vulnerable in all parts of the country, during natural disasters or in conflict situations.
The ICRC has always been able to count on the commitment, the skills and the friendship of the Philippine National Red Cross, and the support and important role played by your National Society following the abduction of our colleagues in Jolo is highly valued during these difficult times for the ICRC.
I would like to express the ICRC’s appreciation for the excellent work done and the good cooperation which has existed for many years between our two organizations, notably in the fields of restoring family links, dissemination of international humanitarian law, and assistance, as for instance today’s vital humanitarian assistance programme in the Mindanao region, which is conducted in close partnership between the PNRC and the ICRC.
Allow me to express my best wishes and those of those of the ICRC as a whole, for the future success of the Philippine National Red Cross in the continuation of its humanitarian activities.
Please accept, Mr. Chairman, the assurance of my high consideration.
Dr. Jakob Kellenberger
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Geneva, 27 February 2009
Dear Senator Gordon,
As you imagine, since January 15, I have been following with great attention and concern, the case of our three colleagues abducted in Jolo, even though I am totally trusting and supporting our senior staff in charge both at the filed level, particularly M. Jean Daniel Tauxe, and at the headquarter level, notably M. Alain Aeschlimann. Both of them know that I am personally ready to do anything which is deemed useful for contributing to the quick and unconditional release of Mary Jean, Eugenio and Andreas.
This week, I had a meeting with the families of Eugenio and Andreas in the occasion of their visit to our headquarters. It was particularly moving moment.
Upon his recent return from the Philippines, Mr. Alain Aeschlimann gave me an extensive update on the situation and the complexity of issues to deal with. I was particularly impressed by the words he used to describe your commitment, genuine concern and creativity to find ways to get the so long expected release.
For everything you have done and continue to do, O wish to extend to you on behalf of the ICRC and myself, our most heartfelt thanks.
I am aware that the next days may be key in the effort to get a positive and happy resolution of this crisis. We are confident that you will find the best way to secure the release of our dear colleagues, while promoting and strengthening the principles we have in common in the Movement in such difficult situations, and ensuring that the ICRC, the PNRC, and more generally other humanitarian organizations, will be able to continue their work, in your country and abroad, without any adverse consequence.
Please do let me known if you will be stopping over in Geneva on your way to or from Paris for the Federation Governing Board, in which case I would be happy to invite you to lunch or dinner. I would be grateful if we could coordinate this meeting through Mr. Tauxe and Mr. Aeschlimann.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Jakob Kellenberger