Brussels, 20/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday evening, the European Union bodies unanimously condemned the attack made against the United Nations Office in Baghdad, an attack in which one hundred were wounded and at least 17 died, including the United Nations Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello.
European Commission President Romano Prodi sent a message to Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, in which he expresses the Commission's "outrage" at the "barbaric attack on civilians". In his message, Romano Prodi stresses that "the work of the United Nations is essential to rebuilding a stable and prosperous Iraq" and that the United Nations are the most fervent advocates of a rapid and effective transfer of power to the Iraqi people. "The targeting of its staff and of Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello is therefore an attack on the future of Iraq and all of its people", the Commission President states.
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for external policy, expressed his "deep sadness" at the death of Mr Vieira de Mello, and his "sympathy" to the families of the victims. Like European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten, he stresses that the number one of the United Nations in Baghdad was "a great servant of the international community". Chris Patten considers "his murder is a terrible blow to all who believe that the best way of dealing with the world's problems is through international cooperation and through making the UN system more effective".
Pat Cox expressed, on behalf of the European Parliament, his "most profound sympathy and solidarity" with the families and colleagues of those who died. The President of the European Parliament calls upon the whole international community to support the United Nations in their work to rebuild rule of law in Iraq. "That would be the most fitting tribute to the steadfast courage of Sergio de Mello and the other UN officials who have lost their lives in Baghdad", he added.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the Italian Presidency also "strongly condemns this barbarous terrorist attack against the United Nations precisely at a time in which it is being called upon to reinforce its presence and role in the reconstruction of the country". In a message addressed to Kofi Annan, Silvio Berlusconi above all expresses the dismay of the Italian government at the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello, a United Nations representative who distinguished himself through a praiseworthy task to the service of peace. In another message published by the Foreign Ministry, the Presidency reaffirms the EU's full willingness to take part in the rebuilding of Iraq in the context of UN resolutions and renews the full support of the European Union to the UN and to its work of reconstruction in Iraq.
The European Commission stated that the three officials working for the ECHO humanitarian aid office in Baghdad will remain where they are for the time being. On the other hand, three other officials from the Commission who are carrying out a mission to assess reconstruction needs will leave Iraq.
In Strasbourg, the Council of Europe lowered the European flag as well as the flags of its 45 Member States, as a sign of bereavement.