RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT YOUTH MEET IN IRAN
The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Mohammad Khatami was
guest of honour at the recent and inaugural International Red Cross Red Crescent
Youth Conference in Shiraz, Iran.
He set the tone for the three-day conference by saying that "the conference
stems from a long history of humanitarian work, promotion of tolerance and diversity
of cultures. Youth are the symbol of honesty and the source of questions searching
for the truth, freedom and justice against violence."
The president of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Dr Ahmad Ali Noorbala, appealed to the young participants to "take the
issue of dialogue, mutual understanding, friendship and avoidance of the atmosphere
of war, conflict, hostility and violence to political leaders as a national
as well as international ideal."
Following the opening session the 52 participants were divided into two working
groups, which, with the help of facilitators from the Iran Red Crescent, the
Federation and the ICRC, had to draw up recommendations on how the Red Cross
Red Crescent Movement could promote peace and friendship, and what role youth
could play in advancing these ideals.
Founded in 1919, the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation,
providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious
beliefs, class or political opinion, and promoting the humanitarian activities
of its 179 member National Societies among vulnerable people. The Federation,
the National Societies and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) together
constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which here
in Azerbaijan is represented by the delegations of IFRC and ICRC, and the Azerbaijan
Red Crescent Society (AzRC).
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