Pavel Savchuk, President of the Russian Red Cross (RRC), the oldest humanitarian organization in Russia, met with Mirjana Spolaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The meeting focused on the Ukrainian crisis. The parties discussed the humanitarian situation and the humanitarian needs, the role of the RCRC in assisting the victims and the mechanisms to improve coordination between the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
During her visit to Moscow on January 19th - January 20th Mirjana Spolaric met the representatives and senior officials of the Russian authorities as well as of the RRC. This was her first visit to Moscow as President of the ICRC.
"The current humanitarian situation in the territories directly affected by the conflict remains tense. For 11 months humanitarian organizations, volunteers, the affected citizens and businesses have been in every way supporting people but theу are still in pressing need of food, water and construction materials. Throughout this entire period of time, we have kept up unflagging communication and information exchange with our partners in the Movement, and we are now discussing the potential new ways to support the population in need," said Pavel Savchuk.
He emphasized that the Russian Red Cross has reached a mutual understanding with their colleagues in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in particular in the ICRC.
The RRC President added that "the National Societies should continue their humanitarian dialogue under any circumstances. We have many issues in common in terms of providing support to the people affected by the Ukrainian crisis. Both by means of the humanitarian diplomacy and by applying the fundamental principles of the Movement, we ought to find a way to establish consistent cooperation between all the components of the International Movement," he said.
“We explore and opt for the most appropriate ways to support the victims. Our key priority is to ensure equal provision of humanitarian aid to everyone who needs it. I am confident that no circumstances or political conditions should prevent us from implementing our exclusively humanitarian mission," said Pavel Savchuk.
In his view, the RRC can demonstrate some successful models of cooperation with the ICRC, for example, the ICRC has supported Russia’s activities to provide assistance to migrants, especially the South of Russia.
“Yet we hope to succeed in strengthening cooperation to ensure equal access to humanitarian aid for all the victims of the Ukrainian crisis and via family reunification activities. It is very important that through its activities the ICRC call for compliance with the IHL in a way beneficial to all civilians and prisoners of war," concluded the Chairman of the RRC.
In their meeting Dr Savchuk and Dr Spolaric also touched on the principles of neutrality and impartiality in the humanitarian work performed by the members of the Red Cross Movement.
