It is true that the Twenty-fifth International Conference of the Red Cross (October 1986), the work of which was extensively reported by the International Review of the Red Cross in its special November-December 1986 issue, was marked by the suspension of the South African government delegation.

War separates families; it separates prisoners of war from the Power on which they depend and civilians from their country of origin or residence. Uncertainty about what has happened to a loved one who is missing on the battlefield or in enemy-controlled territory is much more difficult to bear than the news that he has been captured and interned by the enemy, or sometimes even that he is dead. Moreover, registering a captured person helps to protect him. The provisions for obtaining, collating and transmitting this type of information are a major step forward in international humanitarian law. The National Information Bureau (hereinafter NIB) plays a key role in the system laid down for this purpose by the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The NIB has the important but difficult task of obtaining and transmitting information on protected persons of the adverse party who are in the hands of the party to the conflict to which the NIB belongs.

The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent,

Proclaims that the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together constitute a worldwide humanitarian movement, whose mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found, to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being, in particular in times of armed conflict and other emergencies, to work for the prevention of disease and for the promotion of health and social welfare, to encourage voluntary service and a constant readiness to give help by the members of the Movement, and a universal sense of solidarity towards all those in need of its protection and assistance.

The general object of these Rules of Procedure (hereinafter called “these Rules”) is to ensure the implementation of the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (hereinafter called “the Statutes”) and to regulate the work of its statutory bodies.

After Bucharest in 1977 and Manila in 1981, this is the third time I have the honour of addressing you in my capacity as President of the ICRC. As it is also the last time, I would like to ask for your patience because, after ten years at the head of the ICRC, I wish to avail myself of this final opportunity—and do so without having constantly to glance at my watch—to take stock with you and, together, look to the future.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Saint Lucia Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 140 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Guinean Red Cross by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 141 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Angola Red Cross Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 142 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Suriname Red Cross by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 1 October 1986, brings to 143 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

We have the honour to inform you of the official recognition of the Red Crescent of Djibouti by the International Committee of the Red Cross. This recognition, which took effect on 15 October 1986, brings to 144 the number of National Societies members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

In November and December 1986, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross went on several missions which took him to London, Brussels, The Hague and Brasilia.

At its session of 21 January 1987, the ICRC Assembly took leave of two of its members: Dr. Jacques de Rougemont, who is withdrawing for health reasons, and Mr. Henry Huguenin, who did not wish to renew his mandate. The Assembly expressed its gratitude to them both for the eminent services they had rendered to the Red Cross and made them honorary members.

According to the final surveys there was a definite improvement in the nutritional status of the population in practically all the assisted areas, except for a few pockets in the provinces of Eritrea, Hararghe and Gondar.