The ICRC was honoured in 1978-9 to receive several distinguished guests; they were welcomed by President Hay, together with other members of the International Committee and members of the directorate:5 December 1978, Their Majesties King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden, accompanied by the Permanent Representative of Sweden in Geneva;16 June 1979, Mr. J. C. Turbay Ayala, President of the Republic of Colombia, accompanied by Mrs. Turbay Ayala, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Defence and the Colombian Permanent Representative to Geneva;21 June, Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophie of Spain, with a large retinue including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Labour, the Spanish Ambassador and the Spanish Permanent Representative to Geneva;3 July, Mr. Kurt Waldheim, U.N. Secretary-General, with Mr. L. Cottafavi and Mr. W. Buffum, Under Secretaries-General, and others;11 October, Mr. Abel Alier, Second Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan, with Mr. Isseldin Hamid, Minister of State, Mr. Omar Yusif Birido, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Geneva.