INTERVIEW
[spacer height=”30px”]
Hello, in my first interview for the blog I decided to present you an exceptionally interesting person – a Bulgarian whom we can most certainly call “a citizen of the world”. This is Encho Gospodinov. In the course of his career which started as a journalist in Bulgaria and then continued in the International Federation of the Red Cross, he reached one of the highest positions in humanitarian diplomacy.
[spacer height=”20px”]
- Encho, can you tell us something about your exciting career?
[spacer height=”10px”]
If I have to answer this question in details, the end result will be a text similar to “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy… without his creative power, of course. My life, so far, is full of so many adventures and undertakings, that it would be a long story to tell. But in a nutshell, I see 3 phases:
1950-1975 :Early life in my native Dobrudja, both in the city of Dobrich and in the family house and farm in the village of Smolnica, followed by all sorts of schools, 2 years military service (obligatory in those years), and Sofia University.
1976 – 1991: Reporter, editor of International Desk and Deputy Chief Editor of the then biggest weekly paper in Bulgaria, – “POGLED”. All those years also being “POGLED” correspondent from various military conflicts all over the world, and diplomatic correspondent, covering all major political events, summit meetings between President Ronald Reagan and President Michail Gorbachev, international conferences etc., etc….
1991-2015: field officer, communications officer, Head of Delegation, Permanent Representative of the IFRC to the UN GA in New York, Director of Policy and Communications for IFRC in Geneva, and last 5 years with the European Commission in Brussels. As you see, a long and winding road, as The Beatles song goes…
2. A big part of your career has passed through humanitarian organizations or rather in The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Can you describe to us in a few words what that sort of organization represents and what it does?
[spacer height=”10px”]
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the biggest humanitarian organization in the world, mobilizing the power of 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in all continents; their tens of thousands of professionals and millions of Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteers worldwide. IFRC was founded in 1919, together with the League of Nations (UN predecessor) after the World War One, to prevent the suffering of the people from natural and man-made disasters. Today the IFRC is assisting many millions of people all over the world, and together with its sister-organization ICRC (Swiss institution with international scope of operations) is the largest and, dare I say, the most efficient international humanitarian “machine”, assisting people victims of poverty, health hazards, natural disasters and military conflicts. Together, ICRC, IFRC and the founder of the Red Cross Henry Dunant have 4 (Four) Nobel Peace prizes.
[spacer height=”20px”]
3. At one stage of your career you were engaged in humanitarian diplomacy. Could you tell us what exactly it is?
[spacer height=”10px”]
Humanitarian diplomacy has several definitions, but they reflect more its academic nature, rather than practical humanitarian actions in the field…. Basically this is a mix of the International humanitarian Law (IHL), namely the four Geneva Conventions and its Additional protocols, the Red Cross Principals of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality – supported by active and dynamic advocacy work with Governments, UN and its agencies, media, academia, NGO sector and private businesses etc. The final aim of the humanitarian diplomacy is to prevent or to minimize human suffering, to make international assistance in times of crises more efficient, faster, better and balanced while reaching all those in need. Victims first. All victims, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation etc. Red Cross principles and the Geneva Conventions are the major “weapons” in the Humanitarian diplomacy arsenal. Its efficiency should be measured against the genuine humanitarian actions in the field. The better this diplomacy is, the fewer victims of natural and man-made disasters we should see in the field.
[spacer height=”20px”]
4.It would be interesting if you could give us a specific example of a crisis situation in which the diplomatic efforts of the Red Cross were crucial?
[spacer height=”10px”]
During the war in Iraq millions of civilians were suffering. Not only the wounded and the bleeding. Ordinary people suffered also from the economic embargo imposed on Saddam Hussein’s regime. Active IFRC/ICRC advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy at the UN and at other political forums made it possible to open humanitarian corridors to supply the suffering civilians with food, medicaments, drinking water, shelter and all they needed. We can see this today also in Syria and Yemen. Military operations are being stopped on request of the Red Cross in order to provide secure corridors for bringing food and medicaments in or to take the wounded out. The same was in Former Yugoslavia during the war 1992-1999. As we say “when the Red Cross speaks, the guns are silent” Sadly, this is not always possible. The voice of the combatants is often stronger than the voice of the humanitarians.
[spacer height=”20px”]
5. What is the specific in working with the world leaders in the UN system?
[spacer height=”10px”]
There are many specifics: a good humanitarian diplomat need to know a lot about individual leaders, their aspirations and ambitions, their “soft spots” or weak points. A humanitarian diplomat must be well connected with the political world, but most important, he/she must have rich field experience, to have worked all over the world and to know human suffering and needs in details. He/she must be a good speaker and advocate for the less fortunate and ready to work long years before field results are visible facts of life.
[spacer height=”20px”]
6. What type of people work in humanitarian organizations? What do they give of themselves and what values and experiences do they obtain during their work?
[spacer height=”10px”]
Like in many organizations, one may see different type of people: ambitious, hard-working, compassionate, fast thinkers, good leaders or discrete implementors, brave and good-hearted. Most of them work tirelessly for long hours, days or years in the field, with modest rewards, some of them being kidnaped, shot at or sometimes killed. This is a harsh reality and the work is often dangerous and risky. The major reward they get from their work is to see those suffering from disasters or wars happy, safe, smiling and alive, saved by them. The experience enriches their lives and makes their faces more wrinkled, sometimes. Humanitarian work could be a very heavy and difficult job.
[spacer height=”20px”]
7. What efforts should a boy from a relatively small city in Bulgaria, as Dobrich, make in order to develop professionally so that he can sit at one table with people like Kofi Annan and Bill Clinton? Is it a question of education, zeal or ambition?
[spacer height=”10px”]
A bit of everything: ambition, a “big dream”, courage, hard work, curiosity, good sense of “well measured adventurism and risk-taking” , big heart, compassion, fast decision making, a lot of reading and readiness for heavy duties. And at the end – LUCK.
[spacer height=”20px”]
8. How do you think we can include the principles of the humanitarian organizations in educating young people today and in shaping their mind?
[spacer height=”10px”]
I see a big potential using the school system in every country to spread the knowledge of the humanitarian principles and laws; to teach tolerance and cultural diversity, to be compassionate and ready to help. I believe young volunteers, be they from the Red Cross, from the UN or other organizations, could and should work closely with the media, to tell the human story; to spread the good practice in the field, and especially to prevent more human suffering.
[spacer height=”10px”]
9. Do you think this would help to form a better and more mature civil society?
[spacer height=”10px”]
Absolutely. A well-functioning state or successful nation implies wide understanding of the humanitarian principles and values and well-functioning civil society. If this is implemented in our daily life, we will witness much less sadness and suffering.
[spacer height=”20px”]
10. What could modern politics adopt from humanitarian organizations in terms of principles, tangible action and values?
To remember what the founder of the Red Cross and the First Nobel Peace Prize winner – Henry Dunant – once said: “Si amo tutti fratelli…” We are all brothers. If politicians are being reminded more often about this by the people who elected them, we will enjoy more peace and less tears…
[spacer height=”20px”]
11. Are we witnessing today many situations in which political action of a number of leading countries do not correspond with the humanitarian values?
Yes, sadly. Many UN member states which ratified the Geneva Conventions and other major acts of IHL very often breech these laws and norms, adding to the enormous humanitarian suffering of millions of people. Even more, state armies misuse the indicative and protective Red Cross/Red Crescent emblems, further eroding the power of the International Humanitarian Law. Clearly marked hospitals are bombed, humanitarian workers being kidnapped or brutally murdered. Even UN Security Council resolutions are not being respected… The Red Cross founder Henry Dunant would have been ashamed to see this had he been alive today.
[spacer height=”20px”]
12. Can humanitarian organizations actually influence modern politics and change their current rate, and to finally resolve global challenges such as poverty, lack of education, undernourishment of entire regions and billions of people deprived of basic medical care?
Absolutely. Step by step, with a lot of efforts by the UN, the International Red Cross and other major humanitarian actors working closely with the governments modest progress has been made. Some of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been reached by a number of developing countries in the world, especially in the field of education, public health and social services. But this progress is a drop in a bucket if we try to see the global picture. Much remains to be done and looks like the need for humanitarian action will be eternal…
[spacer height=”20px”]
- Viktoria Buchkova
[spacer height=”50px”]