Note that French and Arabic versions are now available of the History document commissioned and published in 2017 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
The document, “The History and Experience of the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme for Satellite-Aided Search and Rescue” was commissioned by the IAF/IAA/IISL Advisory Committee on History Activities, and edited by Daniel Levesque, former Head of Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat.
The English, French, and Arabic versions may be accessed from this page:
http://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/documents-pro/history-and-experience-of-the-programme