STATEMENT BY
THE COORDINATING BUREAU OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT
ON THE BOMB ATTACK ON THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN BAGHDAD
WEDNESDAY, 20 AUGUST 2003
Members
of the Non-Aligned Movement are deeply shocked and dismayed by the bomb attack
against the Headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Baghdad on 19 August
2003, which has killed 17 people, including Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, as well as injuring many
others. The Movement extends its
sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims, bereaved families and
other affected individuals as a result of the attack.
While
condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms, the Movement believes
that such attacks cannot break the will of the international community to
continue to extend all possible assistance to the Iraqi people to regain their
national sovereignty.
Despite
this attack, the Movement is convinced that the United Nations should continue
to play its role in Iraq through the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
The Movement encourages the Member States of the United Nations and the
Secretary-General to remain steadfast in this regard.
The
Movement welcomes the statements by the Security Council and the
Secretary-General condemning the attack. The
Movement reiterates its pledge to support the Secretary-General and the men and
women who have dedicated their lives to the service of the United Nations in
various missions all over the world. The
Movement calls for enhanced security arrangements for them so that they can
fulfil their mandate peacefully.
The
Movement regards the attack as not simply as an attack against the United
Nations and its institutions but also as a despicable act of terror against the
people of Iraq and the international community as a whole as well as against the
principles that we stand for.
The
Movement demands that the United Nations and its missions not be made targets
for attacks by any party. Such
attacks directed against the people and institution whose only aim is to assist
the people of Iraq and others elsewhere deserve the strongest condemnation of
the whole international community.
New
York
20 August 2003