Brazil: ICRC thanks Brazilian government for logistical support
12-02-2009 News Release 09/39
Brasília (ICRC) – On 10 and 11 February, delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met senior Brazilian government officials to express their gratitude for the logistical support Brazil provided during a recent humanitarian mission in Colombia.
In three separate operations in Colombia between 1 and 5 February, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) released six people and handed them over to members of Colombians for Peace and ICRC delegates. The Brazilian government helped the ICRC carry out these humanitarian operations by providing two helicopters and crew.
On Tuesday 10 February, the ICRC representative for Brazil and southern South America, Michel Minnig, the head of the ICRC delegation in Colombia, Christophe Beney, and the ICRC coordinator in Brazil, Silvia Backes, met the secretary-general of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Pinheiro Guimarães. On Wednesday 11 February, they met the president’s chief special adviser, Marco Aurélio Garcia, and the defence minister, Nelson Jobim.
" The Brazilian team’s professionalism, dedication and discretion were key to the success of these operations, " said Michel Minnig. For Christophe Beney, “it was an honour to visit Brazil and be able to thank the government in person. "
For further information, please contact:
Sandra Lefcovich, ICRC Brasília, tel: + 55 61 32 48 02 50 or + 55 61 81 22 01 19
Marçal Izard, ICRCGeneva, tel: + 41 22 730 24 58 or + 41 79 217 32 24