Up to the end of the period covered by this report, the ICRC continued working for the repatriation on humanitarian grounds of 200 Moroccan prisoners held by the Polisario Front. No date had been set for the repatriation by year's end.

Arabian Peninsula: (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Republic of Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates).

The ICRC regional delegate for the Arabian Peninsula was based in Geneva. Nevertheless, since 2 August 1990 the delegate in charge was present in the region. (For further details see Iraq/Kuwait above).

In 1990, the following States became party to the Protocols: Barbados, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Paraguay, Romania, Ukrainian SSR and Yemen.

The President of the ICRC regularly broached the subject of ratification of the Protocols, both in discussions with visitors to Geneva and during his own visits elsewhere. The ICRC also often approached the authorities of the countries in which it has a delegation and its legal adviser responsible for the matter in Geneva continued to encourage those States not yet party to the Protocols to ratify or accede to them.

Resolution V of the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross (Geneva, 1986) asked the ICRC to gather and assess information on legislation and other measures, either already taken or being considered, to implement international humanitarian law.

In its Resolution III, the 25th International Conference of the Red Cross asked the ICRC to continue its work to improve identification of medical transports and to keep it informed of developments.

The ICRC kept in close touch with the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy, and, as in previous years, helped in the preparation and running of several courses and seminars organized by the Institute. Thus, it was closely involved in the 15th Round Table on current problems of international humanitarian law (4–8 September 1990) which brought together over 150 people representing governments, the academic world, international organizations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The meeting examined specific means of improving respect for international humanitarian law and discussed topics such as:

the contents and scope of the obligation to ensure respect for the law (Article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol I of 1977);

the role of the future International Fact-Finding Commission (Article 90 of Protocol I);

the usefulness of a system of periodic reports on the application of international humanitarian law;

the role of the United Nations in implementing that body of law.

The high point of 1990 came when the ICRC was granted observer status with the United Nations General Assembly (resolution 45/6 adopted by consensus on 16 October). Until then, the ICRC had had consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council; this did not reflect the institution's specific character nor its growing cooperation with UN bodies in New York.

Dissemination of international humanitarian law and the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is always one of the ICRC's primary objectives. Through such activities the ICRC seeks to promote respect for international humanitarian law and prevent violations of it; to increase the effectiveness and safety of humanitarian action; and to strengthen the Movement's identity and cohesion whilst making the specific role of each of its components (ICRC, League, National Societies) better known.

In 1990 the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, composed of two representatives from the ICRC, two from the League and five from the National Societies, the latter elected by the International Conference, met on 1 May, 30 July and 22 October. It was chaired by Dr. Ahmad Abu-Goura, President of the Jordan National Red Crescent Society.

The Commission on the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Peace, set up by the Council of Delegates in 1977, met twice in 1990 (30 April and 16 October) in Geneva under the chairmanship of Mr. Alexandre Hay.

It is composed of representatives of the League, the ICRC, the Henry Dunant Institute and 14 National Societies. During its meetings the Commission was informed of the initial work carried out by the Ad hoc Group which it had set up to reactivate the Plan of Action against Racism and Racial Discrimination (see below).

The Ad hoc Group on the Reactivation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Plan of Action against Racism and Racial Discrimination was set up by the Commission on the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Peace in October 1989 in accordance with Decision 3 of the 1985 Council of Delegates. It met on 30 April and 15 October 1990 in Geneva under the chairmanship of Dr. Dawit Zawde (Ethiopian Red Cross Society).

Convinced of the need to strengthen its relations with the National Societies and increase its own particular contribution to their development, the ICRC continued to establish and maintain direct contact with many National Society leaders to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

In order to maintain and promote unity and solidarity within the Movement, the ICRC and the League consult each other in detail on a regular basis about operational matters and any questions relating to the work of the Movement's statutory bodies.

The ICRC, the League and the Swiss Red Cross are members of the Henry Dunant Institute and take it in turns to supply a Chairman for the Institute for a twoyear term of office. Since October 1989, the Chairman has been Mr. Hubert Bucher, Secretary General of the Swiss Red Cross.

The ICRC's shortwave telecommunications network — one of the most extensive non-governmental networks in the world — provides headquarters in Geneva and the delegations and sub-delegations in the field with an efficient and reliable means of communication. Entirely independent of commercial channels, the network enables radio contact to be maintained round-the-clock in situations where, more often than not, official channels have been disrupted or no longer function.