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Geneva, The United States warmly welcomes the successful outcome of the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Following two previous conferences that were marked by dissension and division, all 186 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and 194 governments joined together in a spirit of unity and consensus in support of the life saving humanitarian work of the Movement. Said John Bellinger, Legal Adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and head of the U.S. delegation, “the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement represents the best of humanity and the U.S. is proud to be a part.” The 30th International Conference marked the first time that the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Magen David Adom (MDA), the national societies of Palestine and Israel, participated in an international Red Cross and Red Crescent conference as full members. The United States was pleased to have facilitated their admission into the Movement at the 29th International Conference held in June 2006. Since their entry into the movement in 2006, these two societies have worked together to strengthen humanitarian assistance for those in need and to build bridges between their peoples. The 30th International Conference adopted by consensus a resolution urging the two societies to enhance their cooperation, calling on the authorities concerned to facilitate this cooperation, and calling for the appointment of an Independent Monitor to monitor the implementation of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding between the two societies. Mr. Bellinger said, “the U.S. Government is extremely pleased that the resolution was adopted by consensus, without acrimony or politics. The U.S. Government is committed to full implementation of the MOU between the two Societies.” The United States was also pleased that the delegations from Israel and the PRCS were able to work out the final operational details that enabled for the first time five PRCS ambulances to enter into service today in East Jerusalem. The United States Government and the American Red Cross served as official witnesses to the signing as part of their facilitation of cooperation among the Government of Israel, the PRCS, and the MDA. John Bellinger told the Conference November 29, “we are buoyed by the cooperative spirit shown this week and hope that the spirit of this conference -- and the spirit of Annapolis -- will continue on in future conferences and in other fora for years to come.” The U.S. strongly supports the initiatives taken at the conference to prepare the Movement to address the humanitarian challenges of the future. We laud the commitment of the Movement to support international humanitarian law and disaster preparedness. We are gratified that the conference participants unanimously endorsed a resolution which will reinforce and strengthen the independence of the national societies around the world. The U.S. Government was also delighted that the candidate of the American Red Cross, Mr. Steven Carr, was elected to the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The U.S. is also pleased to sign a number of pledges to support international humanitarian action, in particular a pledge to protect the activities of journalists in situations of armed conflict. Mr. Bellinger said, “the United States is committed to protecting the rights – and the lives – of civilian journalists working in armed conflicts around the world.”
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