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To carry out these ideals, a protection symbol was chosen: the
Red Cross on a white flag and movements were created in all nations
at the instigation of the founding committee which was later to
be called the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Through the subsequent numerous conflicts, the action of taking
care of victims was extended and the initial concept developed
into full legal instruments, the International Humanitarian Law,
which by now almost the entire international community has
committed itself to respect. So many times also ICRC has been
in the middle of these conflicts as a neutral intermediary.
The question of ICRC's mediations in conflict situations is
often raised. A distinction has to be made here between good
offices exercised for the solution of political problems and
those intended to solve humanitarian problems.
While considering good offices with a view to avoiding or putting
an end to hostilities, it is hardly conceivable to see a neutral
mediator such as ICRC in this role.
Good offices aimed at seeking solutions to humanitarian problems
are a different matter. You are certainly familiar with ICRC's
neutral mediation in this field and also the results it has
achieved in many parts of the world. The ICRC negotiated
agreements for example in connection with the repatriation of
prisoners and with family reunification as well as with the
evacuation of war-wounded or of civilian populations from
fighting areas.
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