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Paris, 20 August 2003
In a letter to the UN Secretary General, the International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) expressed today its deepest
sympathy with the relatives and friends of Sergio Vieira de
Mello, UN Special Representative in Iraq and UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights, who was killed last night in the attack against
the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
The FIDH sends its thoughts to the families of all the victims
and to the whole UN staff.
The FIDH strongly condemns this attack, which directly targeted
the United Nations and thus its efforts for the reconstruction
of Iraq and the promotion of human rights in the country. It
is a shock for all those who work for the defence of human rights
in Iraq and throughout the world.
The death of Sergio Vieira de Mello is an invaluable loss for
the cause of human rights in the world. Mr. Vieira de Mello
was a highly professional public servant, dedicated to the promotion
of human rights. He had proved his abilities in providing assistance
and protection to refugees, displaced persons and victims of
human rights abuse and as a mediator in post-conflict situations.
His appointment as the UN Special Representative in Iraq was
unanimously approved by human rights NGOs as the best step towards
the respect of the fundamental rights of the Iraqi people.
Mr. Vieira de Mello's work shall not be abandoned. Therefore,
the FIDH welcomes the intent expressed today by Kofi Annan to
carry on the United Nations mission in Iraq. Moreover, the FIDH
calls for the international community through the UN Security
Council to take a leading role in the reconstruction of Iraq.
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