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On the Bomb Attack on U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, and the Death of Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General

August 22, 2003


A car bomb attack took place on the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad shortly after 4:00 p.m. local time on August 19 (Japan time: after 9:00 p.m. on the same day), killing about 20 U.N. personnel including the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, and injuring more than 100 others. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi sent a telegram of condolences to the following effect to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan through the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.
  1. I have received the news that the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, was killed by the bomb attack that took place on the U.N. Headquarters in Baghdad on August 19. As the Government of Japan highly appreciates Mr. de Mello's leading role in reconstruction assistance to Iraq, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) recently adopted UNSC resolution 1500 welcoming the establishment of the Governing Council of Iraq, we had high expectations of his future activities.

  2. I am outraged by this cowardly and indiscriminate terrorist attack and I also feel deep sympathy. It would be appreciated if you could convey this message to Mr. de Mello's family in their loss.

  3. The Government of Japan intends to continue making efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq, cooperating with the international community including the U.N. and without being intimidated by cowardly acts of terrorism.
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