Mr. Jakob Burckhardt last summer requested the ICRC Assembly to release him from his functions on the Executive Board. The Assembly has expressed its profound gratitude to Mr. Burckhardt for the outstanding services he had rendered since July 1978, during his four years as a member of the Board. Mr. Burckhardt will continue to be a member of the Assembly.

In its Circular No. 512, dated 20 November 1978, the International Committee of the Red Cross communicated to the National Societies the conditions under which applications for grants could be made in aid of their delegates or nurses who, in the course of their relief work during war operations or natural disasters, had suffered injury and had thereby found themselves in straitened circumstances or in reduced health (article 2 of the Regulations of the Maurice de Madre French Fund, adopted on 19 December 1974 by the ICRC Assembly).

We have the honour to inform you that the International Committee of the Red Cross has officially recognized the Qatar Red Crescent Society.

Pope John Paul II visited the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva on 15 June 1982, the first visit by a sovereign pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church to the ICRC. He was accompanied by Cardinals A. Casaroli and B. Gantin and numerous other church dignitaries.

At its meeting on 15 December 1982 the ICRC Assembly accepted the resignation of Mr. Harald Huber, Vice-President, who has reached retirement age. The President of the ICRC, Mr. Alexandre Hay, warmly thanked him on behalf of the International Committee, which appointed him an honorary member.

On 19 October 1981, the death occurred of Sir Geoffrey Newman-Morris, one of the best known and most popular personalities of the International Red Cross.

On 12 August 1982, while on holiday in Switzerland, the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, paid a private visit to the International Committee of the Red Cross. She was accompanied by her husband, Mr. Denis Thatcher. In the absence of the President of the ICRC, she was welcomed by Mr. Richard Pestalozzi, its Vice-President.

The Republic of Zaire, on 3 June 1982, deposited an instrument of accession to Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977.

On 15 January 1982, the Republic of Korea deposited with the Swiss Government an instrument, dated 28 December 1981, signifying the ratification by the Republic of Korea of Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and relating to the Protection of Victims of International and Non-International Armed Conflicts, signed on 12 December 1977.

On 17 June 1982, Denmark deposited with the Swiss Government an instrument of ratification, dated 2 June 1982, of Protocols I and II additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of the victims of international and non-international armed conflicts, adopted on 8 June 1977.

Switzerland deposited the instruments, dated 11 February 1982, signifying its ratification of the Protocols I and II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International and Non-International Armed Conflicts, signed on 12 December 1977.

The ICRC Vice-President, Mr. Richard Pestalozzi, and the delegate general for Africa, Mr. Jean-Marc Bornet, went on a mission to Angola from 18 to 28 March. They had talks with the authorities concerning the ICRC's activities on the central Planalto and in the southern part of the country.

With deep sorrow the League of Red Cross Societies announced the death on 17 February 1982, following a serious accident, of Charles Andre Schusselé, who had been a trusted member of its staff for thirtyseven years.

The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, by a note dated 11 October 1982 addressed to the Swiss Federal Department for Foreign Affairs and received on 27 October 19S2, has deposited its instruments of accession to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of war victims.

On 7 October 1982 Saint Lucia deposited with the Swiss Government an instrument of accession to the Protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Protocol I) and non-international armed conflicts (Protocol II), adopted at Geneva on 8 June 1977.

On 22 March 1982, the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instruments of accession to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International and Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocols I and II), adopted in Geneva on 8 June 1977.

“Medic-Air 1982”, the international exhibition of medical and general aviation, was held in Geneva from 22 to 25 April. Sponsored by the ICRC and with the object of promoting and developing medical aviation, this event complied with one of the statutory tasks of our institution: to contribute to the preparation of Red Cross medical personnel and equipment, in particular for action in the event of armed conflict. The ICRC had previously held exhibitions of the same type, the first in 1924 and a second one in connection with the celebration, in 1978, of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant.