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GB.273/14/6
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FOURTEENTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Report of the Director-General
Sixth Supplementary Report:
Obituary -- Yvon Chotard
1. The Director-General announces with deep regret the death, on 12 November 1998, of Yvon Chotard, representative of the Government of France on the Governing Body, who twice served as its Chairperson.
2. Yvon Chotard was born in 1921 in La Madeleine, France, and obtained diplomas in law, classical literature and political science. In a long and highly distinguished career he made outstanding contributions in the field of social and labour issues, holding many senior positions and presiding over a number of national bodies, while maintaining his activities in the publishing field, having founded his own publishing house. In particular, in 1952 he founded the Jeune Chambre Economique Française, which he presided until 1956; he was President of the Centre Chrétien des Patrons et Dirigeants d'Entreprise Français (CFPC) from 1965 to 1970; and he presided the Heads of Enterprise Group of the Economic and Social Council of France, of which he was a member since 1964.
3. Within the National Council of French Employers (CNPF) he was successively President of the Education and Training Committee, First Vice-President and President of the Social Committee. In the field of publishing, he was President of the Syndicat National de l'Edition (1975-79) and President of the Cercle de la Librairie (1975-88). In 1988 he was elected Chairperson of the Fondation Nationale pour l'Enseignement de la Gestion des Entreprises (FNEGE). He was also a member of various councils, foundations and associations, holding office in many of them.
4. Yvon Chotard twice served as Chairperson of the Governing Body (1991-92 and 1995-96) -- a unique achievement. His strong personality, extraordinary negotiating skills and ability to unite people in a common cause earned him the respect of all who knew him. As Chairperson of the Governing Body he was greatly admired and managed its work with exemplary efficiency. He served the ILO with enthusiasm, wisdom and courage. He was regarded as the incarnation of social dialogue, tripartism and constructive compromise. His creativity, gift for dialogue and ability to find solutions also transformed the work of the Board of the United Nations Joint Pension Fund. His constructive contribution led to significant agreements on difficult issues, earning him high esteem and, through him, for the ILO.
5. He will be remembered as a man of outstanding ability, who lent great dignity to the work of serving humanity, development and social progress, a charismatic and wise leader, sincere, open, warm and human.
6. Yvon Chotard was married, with eight children. He held the awards of Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et Lettres.
7. The Governing Body will no doubt wish to request the Director-General to convey its sympathy to the family of Yvon Chotard and to the Government of France.
Geneva, 16 November 1998.
Point for decision: Paragraph 7.