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Seoul:
the International Federation admits two new National Societies 11 November 2005 Two new National Societies were officially admitted as members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today. They are the Red Crescent Society of Comoros and the National Red Cross Society of Timor Leste. This brings the number of Federation member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to 183. The ceremony took place during the opening plenary session of the Federation’s General Assembly, which brings 800 delegates together in the capital of the Republic of Korea, Seoul, to adopt new policies and discuss urgent humanitarian issues. The General Assembly is the International Federation’s highest decision-making body. The President of the Comoros Red Crescent , Mr. Mohibaca Baco, extended warm thanks to all those “who made this event possible. Long live international solidarity,” he said. Mr. Benjamin de Araujo e Corte-Real, President of the Timor Leste Red Cross, expressed his pride. “This occasion is an acknowledgement of the dedication and passionate commitment of many people over the past years,” he noted. The plenary followed a morning opening ceremony which heard several speeches, all referring to the importance of preserving human dignity and humanitarian principles. Mr. Han Wan-Sang, President of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross Society, stressed the importance of disaster preparedness and timely response. “Now is the time to take into consideration the root causes of calamities,” he said, pointing to the necessity of increased cooperation and coordination among humanitarian actors. Federation President Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro pointed to the Federation commitment : “to defeat the injustice of poverty and violence, it is to achieve food security, to access acceptable levels of health and education, to protect the environment, to achieve gender equality, and the list goes on.” For his part, the President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Roh Moo-Hyun, reiterated his belief in solidarity and noted that high tech was not the solution to problems such as hunger, disease, exclusion and environmental degradation. “We must secure dignity and peace for humankind,” he stressed. The General Assembly will end deliberations on 14 November. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Sian Bowen, Manager, Media service Tel: + 82 10 39 82 70 44 Eva Calvo, Information officer Tel: + 82 10 39 82 70 61 Marie-Françoise Borel, Information officer Tel: + 82 10 39 82 81 56 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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