31 October 2017•Update: 01 November 2017
By Izzet Taskiran
ISTANBUL
Turkish Airlines will be the transportation sponsor of the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which will be held between Nov. 5 and Nov. 11 in southern Antalya province.
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). It involves delegates from all 190 recognized National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and meets every two years to define the overall policy of the IFRC. The assembly addresses thematic areas important to National Societies.
The main theme of the meetings of the global statutory meetings of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement will be the "Power of Humanity".
Speaking in a news conference held at the Yesilkoy General Directorate on Tuesday, Ilker Ayci, the airline's chairman of the board and the executive committee, said "it is an important honor and precious" for Turkey to host the Red Crescent and Red Cross Federation.
Ayci said Turkish Airlines is pleased to be the transportation sponsor of the gathering of nearly 1,500 humanitarian aid workers, also known as “good hands”, from 190 countries in Antalya.
He said Turkish Airlines is proud to be the “partner and traveling companion” of the Turkish Red Crescent, which is always working to help oppressed people from all over the world.
He emphasized that Turkish Airlines has a duty “to build bridges in the hearts of the countries in need” which cannot be measured with any monetary value.
Last August, a Turkish Airlines cargo plane carrying over 60 tons of food aid arrived in Somali capital Mogadishu. Since 2011, Turkish Airlines has been the only international air carrier serving Somalia.
Also, speaking at the news conference, Turkish Red Crescent head Kerem Kinik said many representatives of associations did not have enough resources to afford plane tickets to attend the conference in Antalya.
"THY, which is our pride and flagship carrier and one of the airlines which carries the most foreign passengers and flies to most stops worldwide showed again its benevolent behavior," he said.
Starting on Sunday, the general assembly to be attended by all humanitarian aid organization, institutions and individuals, will stage mutual discussions and address solutions for humanitarian crises encountered in Myanmar, Somali, Iraq and Syria.
The meeting will also elect the new president, vice president and board members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for a period of four years.
Kinik is among candidates for the Europe Zone Presidency of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together with the German candidate, Volkmar Schon.
