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21 August 2003

U.N. Security Council Reaffirms Determination in Iraq

Promises to help despite attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad

The U.N. Security Council, in an August 20 statement, reaffirmed "its determination to assist the Iraqi people to build peace and justice in their county."

The statement, read by Syrian Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, Security Council president for August, strongly condemned the August 19 terrorist attack on U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad and reiterated "the imperative to respect, in all circumstances, the safety and security of U.N. personnel and the need for adequate security measures to be taken."

Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

Presidential Statement
On the terrorist attack against the UNHQ in Baghdad

The Security Council unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack that took place on 19 August 2003 against the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad and thereby against the international community as a whole, causing numerous deaths and injuries among international personnel and Iraqi people.

The Security Council condemns also in the strongest terms the perpetrators of such attack and underlines the need to bring them to justice.

The Security Council pays tribute and expresses its deepest admiration to all those among the U.N. personnel who have lost their lives or have been injured in the service of the United Nations and of the Iraqi people, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira De Mello.

The Security Council expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families.

The Security Council reaffirms the imperative to respect, in all circumstances, the safety and security of U.N. personnel and the need for adequate security measures to be taken in this regard.

The Security Council reaffirms its determination to assist the Iraqi people to build peace and justice in their country and to determine their own political future by themselves. It welcomes in this regard the determination of the U.N. to continue its operation in Iraq to fulfill its mandate in the service of the Iraqi people, and will not be intimidated by such attacks.

(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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