The title of my talk may appear more than a little ambitious or the subject too extensive. What I intend to do, in fact, is to give here, in no particular order, some of the thoughts and experiences of one engaged in humanitarian law who had the great good fortune to be associated with this fascinating work from the beginning of his career.

In 1981, the Twenty-fourth International Red Cross Conference, in Resolution VI, deplored the fact that in several armed conflicts fundamental provisions of the Geneva Conventions were being violated and that those violations impeded the International Committee of the Red Cross in the discharge of its activities. In spite of the Conference's solemn appeal to remedy the situation, there are still signs of reluctance to fully respect those fundamental rules, and even of ill-will towards them. Under the pretext that it requires reciprocity, the application of Convention provisions is at times made conditional on the outcome of bargaining and the prisoners themselves are treated as hostages, even as instruments of blackmail. Such attitudes are inadmissible. The following text discusses the matter in detail. (Editor.)

The traditional annual press conference given by the President of the ICRC took place on 10 January 1985 at the headquarters of the Committee. It provided not only an opportunity to make the usual assessment of events in the year which had just gone by but, in particular, was the moment chosen by the ICRC to launch an “Appeal for a Humanitarian Mobilization”.

Since 1 January 1985 the International Committee of the Red Cross has a new member: Mr. Odilo Guntern, born in 1937, a citizen of Brig in the canton of Valais.

After having studied law at the universities of Fribourg, Bern and Milan, Mr. Guntern obtained his bachelor degree in 1961 and his doctorate in 1968. He has been head of his own law and notary office in Brig since 1964.

On 6 December the ICRC was grieved to lose one of its longestserving members, Miss Lucie Odier, in her 99th year.

Born in Geneva, Miss Odier obtained her nursing diploma in 1914; she thereafter unceasingly did credit to her profession, particularly by devoting herself to the care of military internees and civilian refugees in Switzerland during the First World War (1914–1918) and later to victims of the pandemic Spanish flu. In 1920 she was assigned to direct the Geneva Red Cross social hygiene dispensary and its visiting nurses service. Her exceptional work and modesty were recognized by all.

It was with great sorrow that the ICRC heard of the demise on 11 December 1984, at age 81, of Mr. Francois de Reynold, former ICRC Head of Protocol.

Mr. de Reynold, a law graduate of Fribourg University, joined the Italian Service of the Central Agency for Prisoners of War on 1 April 1943. In January 1945, he was transferred to the ICRC Liaison Service which later became the Liaison and Protocol Service.

The Rwandese Republic deposited with the Swiss Government, on 19 November 1984, an instrument of accession to the Additional Protocols I and II of 8 June 1977.

Pursuant to their provisions, the Protocols will enter into force for the Rwandese Republic on 17 May 1985, six months after the deposit of the instrument of accession.

The Rwandese Republic is the 48th State to become party to Protocol I and the 41st to Protocol II.

The State of Kuwait deposited with the Swiss Government, on 17 January 1985, an instrument of accession to the Additional Protocols I and II of 8 June 1977.

Pursuant to their provisions, the Protocols will enter into force for the State of Kuwait on 17 July 1985, six months after the deposit of the instrument of accession.

Kuwait is the 49th State to become party to Protocol I and the 42nd to Protocol II.

Mr. Jean-Marc Bornet, ICRC delegate general for Africa, went on mission to Ethiopia from 30 October to 11 November. From Addis Ababa, the delegate general visited various places in North Wollo, Tigre and Eritrea. These regions, where conflicts are taking place, are the ones most affected by drought and the ICRC is the only international humanitarian organization actively involved in distributing relief supplies.