Gordon to meet French President Sarkozy

Independent Senator Richard J. Gordon will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy when he attends the meeting of the governing board of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Paris, France this week.

Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and member of the governing board of the IFRC, will also meet with Paris City Mayor Bertrand Delanoe.

Aside from the meeting of the IFRC governing board, the Federation also commemorates its 90th anniversary on May 5.

In 1919, representatives from the National Red Cross Societies of Britain, France , Italy , Japan , and the US came together in Paris and established the League of Red Cross Societies.

Its goal was to strengthen and unite, for health activities, already-existing Red Cross Societies, promote the creation of new Societies, and coordinate activities between the National Societies.

The name of the League was changed in 1991 to its current official designation the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Gordon was elected Governor of the Federation during the IFRC 15th General Assembly in Seoul, Korea in November 2005. He obtained the support of 110 countries and placed fourth among the Asia-Pacific candidates.

The convention's participants expressed admiration to the PNRC who, under Gordon's leadership, has shown proactive stance in various emergency situations and was recognized as a Red Cross donor society.

The PNRC has donated to regions and countries struck by disasters and calamities such as the Hurricane Katrina in the US Gulf Coast, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the 7.9 magnitude earthquake in China.