Introduction

This volume brings together my writings concerning the movement of the Red Cross. I worked from 1969 through 1971 in the Henry Dunant Institute, the research and publishing arm of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as head of the research department. In the beginning of 1969 I was looking for a job after having left my employment with a private firm active in the field of trade promotion between Switzerland and Africa. At that time, the job market was truly bearish in the city on the shores of the Lake Léman, and I made some curious experiences when I answered all seemingly interesting offers that appeared in the newspapers. For example, the European general manager of an American firm, after having interviewed me, friendly told me, tapping on my shoulders: "My friend, you are too well educated for us."

As usual, I asked one of my benefactors in Geneva, Professor Jacques Freymond, and Director of the Graduate Institute of International Studies, to advise me if he would hear about some opportunities of work. In a couple of days he called me and told me to ask immediately for an appointment with Pierre Bossier, the director of the newly established scientific institute of the ICRC - Professor Fremont was a member of the Committee and later became vicepresident. Pierre and I at once sympathized and I started to work in the Henry Dunant Institute the following week.

I worked only half a day in the Institute, so I could work during the other half at the university's library researching and writing my dissertation about Islam and the Reformation, with a view to obtain the doctorate in divinity at the Faculty of Protestant Theology (the old Calvin Academy) of the University of Geneva. In addition, Pierre agreed as well to my accepting the first assignments I got with the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/GATT, the debut of my career with the United Nations, and the half days I missed in the Institute I compensated once I returned to Geneva. These conditions were all the more advantageous for me: first, I could prepare my dissertation, and, second, with what I earned during the UN missions I could round off somewhat my reduced, though generous for a half a day work, monthly salary. During those three years at the Institute I did a lot of things; in fact, I had a great freedom in deciding what I want to do. In the main, I organized seminars and participated in other training events of the ICRC; I set up some inquiries about subjects of interest for the ICRC, for example by using the Delta method of polling scientists and businessmen; I wrote about the origins of the Red Cross and the Red Cross youth movement; and I prepared the publication of a new edition of the ICRC manual, which is like the Bible for the organization's delegates, containing all the legal texts, such as the Geneva Conventions, the history of the movement, practical regulations for behaving in war situations, among other things.

A great pleasure was for me that I could finalize a project, dear for both Pierre and me, the publication of the famous book of Bartholomew de Las Cases, the Spanish missionary in Central America, friend and protector of the Indians.

The Institute had a very small team and in it a friendly atmosphere prevailed. I shall never forget the luncheon put up by Pierre in the conference room of the Institute in our honor, my wife Monika and me, the day when we left for the airport to take our plane for Algiers, my first long-term assignment with the United Nations. We had already all our luggage in the Institute, and when the two taxis came for us, each of my colleagues, led by Pierre, grasped one or two suitcases or bags accompanying us to the cars waiting at the entrance. I learned, during my first year in Algeria when reading Le Monde, about the tragic death of my friend Pierre who, in the course of demolishing a house when he was in the obligatory work service (replacing the military service), was accidentally killed by falling stones. I dedicate my writings about the Red Cross contained in this volume to the memory of Pierre Boissier.