Alexandre Hay Research Articles

Death of Alexandre Hay

Former ICRC President Alexandre Hay died on 23 August in Geneva at the age of 72. With Mr. Hay's passing the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has lost a true champion of the humanitarian cause, wholly committed to upholding the law and the Movement's ideals and to promoting peace through dialogue.

Tribute to Alexandre Hay

Alexandre Hay bore the last few months of his illness, which he knew was extremely grave, with lucidity and fortitude. He had full confidence in his doctors but as a deeply religious man he knew that, while our duty as human beings is to strive for success in what we do, the final word lies with the Creator. He never made a show of his religious conviction, but at the hour of reckoning did not hesitate to affirm his unreserved submission to God's will.

Under the presidency of Mr. Alexandre Hay: the ICRC from 1976 to 1987: Controlled expansion

On 6 May of this year, on the occasion of Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga's taking office as the ICRC's twelfth President, the ICRC General Assembly paid tribute to Mr. Alexandre Hay, who headed the institution from 1 July 1976 to 6 May 1987.The members of the Committee and the Directorate recalled, in particular, the profound humanity and determination with which Mr. Hay had carried out his responsibilities throughout a decade marked by innumerable crises.

The International Committee of the Red Cross and Health

The ICRC Medical Division, established in November 1977, works for the war wounded, for prisoners, for the civilian population and for the war disabled. Its essential purpose is to keep the victims alive, alleviate their suffering and prevent their sicknesses or wounds from ruining the rest of their lives.In his summary of ICRC activities during his term of office, (1976–1987) President Alexandre Hay said last May, “The medical sector, completely embryonic when I arrived, has developed considerably and has now achieved a highly praiseworthy quality and dimension. The ICRC and the victims of conflicts owe a great deal to the spirit of initiative, devotion and competence of its doctors”.The Review is particularly pleased to publish the following article by Dr. Remi Russbach, Chief Medical Officer of the ICRC, who traces the evolution of the Medical Division in the past ten years, emphasizing not only the progress achieved in the execution of its programmes but dealing as well with the problems which the ICRC has had to face in this domain.

Presidency of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Mr. Alexandre Hay today retires from his post as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Institution would like to pay public tribute to the great moral and intellectual qualities which he has unfailingly demonstrated throughout his term of office and to express its profound gratitude for the services which he has rendered to our Movement as a whole.

Cornelio Sommaruga takes office as ICRC President Tribute to Alexandre Hay

The new President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, took office on 7 May 1987. The official handover took place the previous day during the ICRC's meeting in Assembly.

Missions by the President of the ICRC

On the occasion of the Eighteenth Conference of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies, which was held in Doha (Qatar) from 2 to 5 March (see account on p. 224), Mr. Alexandre Hay, the ICRC President, and Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, the President elect, visited several Gulf countries from 21 February to 5 March. They were accompanied by Mr. Serge Nessi, Head of the Financing Division.

Council of Delegates

The Council of Delegates, which is attended by representatives from the National Societies, the ICRC and the League, met on 22 October 1986 under the chairmanship of Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC.

Appointment of the future President of the ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has approached Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, at present Swiss State Secretary for External Economic Affairs, to succeed Mr. Alexandre Hay, who has expressed the desire to retire from the presidency of the Institution before the end of his third term of office, which expires at the end of 1988.Mr. Sommaruga has just accepted the ICRC's proposal. He will take up his duties during 1987 on a date to be specified later. Until then President Hay will continue in office full-time.

Visit by the President of the Republic of Senegal

Mr. Abdou Diouf, President of the Republic of Senegal and current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and Mrs. Abdou Diouf, Honorary President of the Senegalese Red Cross, visited the ICRC on 18 June 1986.Mr. Diouf was received by Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC, members of the Committee and Directorate and heads of the main services of the institution. Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Minister of Planning and Co-operation, Mr. Andre Sonko, Minister of Public Offices, Work and Employment, Mrs. Mantoulaye Guene, Minister of Social Development, and Mr. Alioune Sene, Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative of Senegal to the Office of the United Nations at Geneva, accompanied Mr. Diouf during his visit.

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Visits the ICRC

During his stay in Geneva, Mr. Richard von Weizsäcker, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, visited the International Committee of the Red Cross on 12 June 1986. He was received by Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC, and members of the Committee and Directorate. Mr. von Weizsäcker and Mr. Hay discussed various humanitarian issues during their meeting, which gave the ICRC President the opportunity to emphasize how much the Federal Republic of Germany's support to the institution'activities was appreciated.

ICRC President Carries Out Mission in Rabat

ICRC President Alexandre Hay, accompanied by the ICRC Delegate General for the Middle East and North Africa, travelled to Rabat on 28 June to have talks with King Hassan II of Morocco on humanitarian issues related to the Western Sahara conflict.After preliminary discussions with Foreign Affairs Minister Filali, Mr. Skalli, who was formerly Ambassador in Geneva and is now the head of the political department at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and other Moroccan government officials, Mr. Hay was received by the King in the company of the Foreign Affairs Minister and a high ranking Army officer.

Missions by the President of the ICRC

During May, Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC, carried out a series of missions taking him first to the United Kingdom (1–2 May) and then to Asia (3–15 May), where he visited Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, India and Bangladesh.In London, Mr. Hay had a meeting with Sir Geoffrey Howe, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, which was concerned mainly with the ratification by the United Kingdom of the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions.

Mr. Alexandre Hay, Doctor honoris causa, Geneva University

Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, received an honorary doctorate from Geneva University, together with eight other eminent figures from scientific, cultural, teaching and religious fields.

Missions by the President of the ICRC

From 2 to 11 February, Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC, accompanied by Mr. S. Nessi, Head of the Financing Division, visited Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in that order.In Bahrain, where he stayed until 4 February, Mr. Hay was received by Emir Issa Ben Selman Al-Khalifa and had discussions with Sheik Mohammad Ben Moubarak Ben Hamad Al-Khalifa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ali Mohammad Fakhro, Minister for Education (who is also President of the Bahrain Red Crescent) and with other senior staff members of the National Society.

Missions by the President of the ICRC

The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandre Hay, accompanied by Mrs. Hay and Mr. F.-P. Küng, ICRC Delegate General for Europe and North America, spent 7 and 8 June in Liechtenstein. On 8 June, they attended the Annual General Meeting of the Liechtenstein Red Cross, which marked that Society's fortieth anniversary. It was a rather special and not unemotional occasion, as Princess Gina, the President of the National Society, officially resigned her office in favour of Princess Maria-Aglaë.

The President of the ICRC in Lebanon

The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandre Hay, accompanied by Mr. Jean Hoefliger, ICRC delegate general for the Middle East, visited Lebanon from 12 to 16 February. He was received in Beirut by the President of the Republic, Mr. Amin Gemayel, Mr. Rashid Karami, President of the Council of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Selim Hoss, Minister for Labour and Education. Discussions on matters of mutual interest made it possible to strengthen even more the excellent relationship that exists between the ICRC and the Lebanese Government.

A new building for the Central Tracing Agency

The opening ceremony for the new building of the Central Tracing Agency took place at the ICRC on 29 October 1984. During the inauguration about one hundred guests were addressed by Mr. Pierre Aubert, Federal Councillor and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jacques Vernet, Vice-president of the State Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, Professor Jean-Werner Huber, Director of the Federal Buildings Office, and Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC.

The President of ICRC receives the United Nations Peace Medal

On 5 July 1984 Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization, presented the United Nations Peace Medal to Mr. Alexandre Hay, President of the ICRC.This high distinction is a mark of esteem and reflects honour on the ICRC and on the Red Red Cross as a whole.Readers may recall that the U.N.O. awarded its Human Rights Prize to the ICRC in 1978.

The President of the ICRC visits the League of Arab States

The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandre Hay, accompanied by Mr. Jean Hoefliger, delegate-general of the ICRC for the Middle East, and by Mr. S. Nessi, chief of the Finance Division, paid a visit to Tunis from 22 to 25 March, during which he went to the headquarters of the League of Arab States. There he met the Secretary-General of the League, Mr. Chedli Klibi, together with Mr. Assad el Assad, Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Moncef el May, the League's permanent observer in Geneva, and Mr. Ahmed Harguem, chief of the Diplomatic Relations Department.