May 01, 2012 by Simon Schorno
Dispatch - President Kellenberger, Washington, March 28
President Kellenberger, Washington, March 28
ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger met yesterday with President Obama and held talks with senior United States government officials.
Mr. Kellenberger met at the White House with President Barack Obama and John Brennan. In addition, the ICRC President met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, the Director of National Intelligence, General James Clapper, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, General David Petraeus, and Deputy Attorney-General James Cole.
"In Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere, the United States must strike a balance between security, military necessity and humanity," said Mr Kellenberger while in Washington. "In particular, it remains imperative that persons held for security reasons who have not been charged be regularly assessed through a robust review mechanism. If such persons no longer pose a threat, they must be released."
President Kellenberger also delivered the 2012 Grotius Lecture at ASIL's 106th Annual Meeting while in Washington. He was awarded the association's Honorary Member Award on this occasion.
In this Dispatch, the ICRC President speaks about humanitarian principles, his visit, the dialogue between the ICRC and the United States, detention and the law.