Seychelles takes part in Red Cross general assembly |30 November 2009

Mr Konoé was elected recently at the 17th session of the General Assembly of the Red Cross Movement, which took place from November 18-25 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Red Cross Society of Seychelles was represented by its president, Colette Servina, its secretary general, Jeanine Grandcourt, and youth representative, Jacinthe Rose. 

Mr Konoé has been the president of the Japanese Red Cross Society since 2005, previously serving as its vice-president for 14 years. He has also held several posts in the IFRC.

He will serve a four-year term and said one of his goals is to work towards improving the sense of togetherness and talking to as many national societies as possible.

“I especially want to reach out to those who have felt neglected or isolated. Through a greater sense of connection to each other, we can best implement Strategy 2020,” he said.

Outgoing president of the IFRC, Juan Manuel Suarez  del Toro Rivero, said what gave him the greatest satisfaction was the incorporation of the Palestine Red Cross Society and Magan David Adom at the same time.

 “Looking inwards at our institution, I would have liked to do more to increase the capacities of the weaker national societies, particularly those that are closest to situations of extreme vulnerability”.

Delegates at the General Assembly also elected Paul Birech from the Kenya Red Cross for the African continent as vice-president. Jaslin Uriah Salmon from the Jamaican Red Cross will represent the Americas, Mohammed Al Maadheed of the Qatar Red Cross will represent Asia, and Bengt Westerberg from the Swedish Red Cross will represent Europe.