REPATRIATION OF THE GREEK CHILDREN

REPATRIATION OF THE GREEK CHILDREN

The Union has been concerned with this issue for a long time. It has been on the agenda of the Red Cross semiannual conference which opened on May 10, 1950 in Geneva.

Mrs. Moliere, Union Chairman of the Executive Board, wrote to Mr. Basil O’Connor, League President of the Board of Governors, begging him to use all his influence to raise this issue “in the spirit of goodwill and international understanding” and to allow it to be put in the field to which it belongs, and that is the field of humanity and the family.

It is well-known that the United Nations entrusted the care of organizing the repatriation of these children to the International Red Cross Committee and the Red Cross League.

The League Executive Board, at its May 11, 1950 meeting, passed a resolution on this issue with which it informed the United Nations

that “failure to overcome obstacles over which the Red Cross has no control, will result in failure to complete the mission it was entrusted with!”

With deep regret, the Executive Board declared that “Despite our continuous efforts, not one Greek child has been returned to Greece so far. None of the governments were interested in solving this problem, not even at the ‘most elementary or technical information level’. Once again the League has expressed ‘its willingness to continue performing the tasks applied in full compliance with the International Red Cross Committee’...”

One new fact in the Red Cross plan, said Mr. Basil O’Connor, is that the representatives of the Yugoslav Red Cross have told the Executive Board that the Yugoslav Red Cross has already decided to take all necessary measures to settle this issue and to return the children to their parents.

During the Conference of the Aegeans, held on June 2, 1950, in Skopje, a telegram was sent to the CPY Central Committee and to Tito, in which among other things it was said:

“We are happy to accept the position proposed by the Yugoslav delegation to the United Nations to return the children to their parents because, among us, there are many mothers and fathers waiting to receive their children. This act is highly principled and humane and we want to carry it out; to uphold our part and have the children who are in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Poland returned to us. We also welcome the Yugoslav government’s principled stand on the issue of normalizing diplomatic relations with Greece...”

(“Voice of the Aegeans”, September 1, 1950)

THIRD UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION

During the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Sitting, held on December 1950, the Third Resolution was adopted for Greek children. This was actually a former resolution extended to cover

demands from both parents. After that to educate committee representatives from Peru, the Philippines and Sweden as well as to allow the Red Cross League representatives entry into countries where there are Greek children for the purpose of repatriation. Every time when it is needed, these countries would grant access in their territory.

December 1, 1950 Resolution:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1584 A / S

With great concern, we acknowledge receipt of reports from the International Red Cross Committee, from the Red Cross League as well as from the Secretary General, especially with statements like “no Greek child has been returned to Greece, with the exception of Yugoslavia, and that no country in which there are Greek children has taken any decisive action in conformity with the unanimously adopted General Assembly Resolutions of two consecutive sessions.”

Recognizing the need, in the spirit of humanity, regardless of political and ideological convictions, the effort to return the children to their parents must not stop.

Recognition is given to the International Red Cross Committee, to the Red Cross League and to the Secretary General for their effort invested in implementing resolution 193 C (III) and 288 B (IV) initiated by the General Assembly.

1. The Secretary General, the International Red Cross Committee and the Red Cross League are asked to continue their efforts in conformity with the said resolutions;

2. The countries which provide protection for the Greek children are called upon to take all the necessary measures, in cooperation with the Secretary General and with the international Red Cross organizations, in order to accelerate the return of the children to their parents and each time, when needed, to grant access to the international Red Cross organizations in their territory;

3. A standing committee is formed, which includes representatives from Peru, the Philippines and Sweden, which will operate in accordance with the Secretary General and will agree to exchange views with representatives from interested countries for a rapid repatriation of the children;

4. The International Red Cross Committee and the Red Cross League are asked to cooperate with the said standing committee;

5. The General Secretary is asked, from time to time, to report to member states on the progress and implementation of this resolution. The international Red Cross organizations and the Secretary General are asked to report back during the sixth session of the General Assembly.

(UN no. 1584 A / S - 1950)