A memorial to Vatche Arslanian, Baghdad

The Vice-President of the Canadian Red Cross, Ms. Kate Wood, said Vatche – Syrian-born of Armenian descent – typified the spirit and core strengths of both Canada, his adopted country, and the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement. She spoke of his dedication and unabated commitment to community causes, including, since 1991, the Red Cross. Ms. Wood said that Vatche’s friends and colleagues “will strive to promote respect for the emblems, so that others who follow in Vatche’s footsteps will not do so in fear.”

In a moving personal tribute, Vatche’s sister, Sylvie Arslanian, told the hushed gathering of her brother’s pride and joy at being “a member of the Red Cross family”. She described him as a “courageous combatant against injustice, discrimination and hypocrisy”, and described how he had inspired her. “Your body has left us, but not your spirit,” she said, adding: “We have the consolation of knowing that you led your life as you wished it, and that you left this world at peace with yourself.”

ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger said that Vatche had volunteered to remain in Baghdad, to help save lives: before the war started he had ensured that relief supplies were in the right place, and once the fighting started he helped to deliver them, notably to hospitals. Referring to the murder of fellow ICRC delegate Ricardo Munguia in Afghanistan less than two weeks earlier, Mr. Kellenberger said the two men – one Canadian, the other from El Salvador – illustrated the universality of humanitarian action as a response to the universality of human suffering.

As the war closed in around Baghdad, Vatche spoke to ICRC headquarters daily. Two of his colleagues in the Logistics Division – François Mounis and Luc Dumoulin - paid warm tributes to his motivation, his common sense and dedication to duty. Mr. Mounis noted that Vatche believed deeply in ideals: “ideals that unite us, that make us live, that took you to your death….”. Dumoulin, a fellow Canadian, stressed Vatche’s unfailing consideration for others; “he was always available for his team – but as a manager he knew what he wanted and could stand up for his views.”

Two speakers recalled a radio interview given by Vatche after his first ICRC mission to Georgia in 2000, in which he said: “Helping to bring a smile and dignity to a fellow human being is deeply fulfilling. It is the best reward that one can have and beats by far what one obtains from acquiring wealth, power and prestige…”

See press release 03/27 of 9 April 2003.
Read how Vatche described his job in Iraq in an article on this site.
See the tribute on the Canadian Red Cross website.