LOC15:31
12:31 GMT
KUN0048 4 GEN 0329 KUWAIT /KUNA-EQF3
Ppl-National Societies-IFRC
Del Toro re-elected chairman of Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
GENEVA, Nov 12 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC) re-elected today Juan Manuel Suarez del Toro to a
second four-year term as president of the organization.
The 53-year-old industrial engineer from Spain was first elected to the
post in November 2001.
With 129 votes out of the 170 votes cast, Suarez del Toro, was elected in
the first round by the absolute majority required.
There were two other candidates in the running, member of the Board of
Governors and Honorary Vice-President of the Canadian Red Cross Janet
Davidson, and President of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society Muctarr Jalloh.
Suarez del Toro thanked the Assembly for its renewed expression of
confidence.
"I would like to thank all of you who have been working with me over the
past four years, and not least the National Societies and their volunteers,
those of you who really do the work of the Movement. I would like to renew my
commitment to keep working for the Movement and for the people we dedicate our
work and actions to, the most vulnerable," said the re-elected President of
the IFRC.
Beginning as a youth volunteer more than 30 years ago, he rose through the
ranks of the Spanish Red Cross, occupying several posts, from Red Cross Youth
Director and President of the Canary Island branch, to Vice-President and then
President of the Spanish Red Cross, a position that he has held since 1994.
Suarez del Toro was elected by representatives of member Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, currently attending the Federation's 15th session of the
General Assembly in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
The newly re-elected President is a university professor in economics and
business management.
His new term will commence as from the end of the current General Assembly,
on 14 November. (end)
hn.mab
KUNA 121531 Nov 05NNNN