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20 August 2003

World Bank Head on Bombing of U.N. Offices in Iraq

Several Bank staff injured, some still missing, Wolfensohn says

World Bank President James Wolfensohn has expressed "shock and deep regret" about the August 19 bombing of the United Nations (U.N.) headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

The U.N. building also housed offices of the Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), Wolfensohn noted in an August 20 statement. He said that several World Bank staff members were injured during the blast, and all Bank personnel except for four local employees and one consultant have been accounted for.

"Our hearts go out to everyone affected and to the families of all those who were killed or injured," he said.

Following is the text of Wolfensohn's statement:

(begin text)

World Bank Expresses Shock And Regret At Attack On UN HQ In Baghdad

President Wolfensohn extends sympathy to UN for loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello; four World Bank local staff and one consultant still unaccounted for

WASHINGTON, August 19, 2003 -- World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn expressed shock and deep regret at the terrible events today in Baghdad, saying "all in the Bank family express unity with our colleagues in the UN system."

The World Bank has made contact with its staff members currently in Baghdad who have reported that all but four local staff and one consultant are safe and have been accounted for. Several, however, have sustained injuries in the blast.

The UN headquarters houses UN, IMF and World Bank offices. The Bank, which has 15 staff members currently in Baghdad, including five Washington-based, nine local, and one international staff in charge of security, will continue to monitor the situation closely and strive to ensure the safety of Bank staff.

Wolfensohn expressed deep sympathy today to the families and friends of the victims, including UN Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello.

"Our hearts go out to everyone affected and to the families of all those who were killed or injured," said Wolfensohn. "Sergio Vieira de Mello was a partner of ours in Kosovo, East Timor, and Baghdad. We learned to admire him, to trust him and to support his search for peace and development. This tragic loss brings to mind the terrible times through which we are living. Those who search for peace are none-the-less targets in violence. We shall all continue with our search for peace for the Iraqi people, and extend to the family of Sergio Vieira de Mello, to Kofi Annan and to all in the UN family our deepest condolences and our sense of unity with them. And we will continue to strive to do everything possible to support reconstruction and development in Iraq."

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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