ORGANIZED CRIME TO BE GROWING PROBLEM IN IRAQ,

UNODC FACT-FINDING MISSION REPORTS

(Reissued as received.)

VIENNA, 27 August (UN Information Service) -- A four-member team from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently returned from a two-week fact-finding mission in Iraq.

FAREWELL FOR SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

GENEVA, 26 August (UN Information Service) -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is hosting a celebration of Sergio Vieira de Mello’s life on Thursday 28 August at 19:00 hrs at the Geneva International Conference Centre at 15 Rue Varembé.  Friends, colleagues and acquaintances are warmly invited to attend this event which is open to all. 

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ/KUWAIT BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement to the press on Iraq/Kuwait delivered today by Security Council President Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

Members of the Security Council heard a briefing from Yuli Vorontsov, the High-Level Coordinator, on the thirteenth report of the Secretary-General in accordance with paragraph 14 of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999).

SECRETARY-GENERAL MOURNS LOSS OF ‘DEAR FRIEND’ SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

AT MEMORIAL SERVICE IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the memorial service of Sergio Vieira de Mello in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 23 August:

I thank you all for being here today, as we mourn the loss of a dear friend of mine, a beloved son of Brazil, and a great servant of the United Nations.

REMARKS OF BERTRAND RAMCHARAN, ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 22 August (UN Information Service) -- Following are the comments made today by Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, at Baghdad Airport:

Friends of the United Nations, supporters of the human rights movement, dear colleagues,

HEAD OF UN GENEVA OFFICE EXPRESSES SORROW, OUTRAGE AT LOSS

OF COLLEAGUES IN ATTACK ON UN BAGHDAD HEADQUARTERS

Pays Tribute to Sergio Vieira de Mello for his Dedication to Cause of Peace

(Reissued as received.)

IN REMARKS TO STAFF AFTER BAGHDAD BOMBING, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

SERVICE WITH UN ‘IS NOT SIMPLY A JOB –- IT IS A CALLING’

Following is the text of remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to United Nations staff members today:

Dear friends,

Today our hearts are heavy with loss.

Our senses reel from the sights and sounds of one of the darkest days in the history of the United Nations.

HOW CAN WE THANK LOST COLLEAGUES?  VOW EACH DAY TO COMPLETE WORK

THEY BEGAN, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL IN VIDEO MESSAGE

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s video message following the bomb attack on the United Nations Mission in Iraq, delivered

20 August:

PRESS STATEMENT ON BAGHDAD BOMBING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

The following press statement was issued today by the President of the Security Council, Fayssal Mekdad (Syria):

Members of the Council were shocked to hear of the terrorist criminal attack against the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad.

VIEIRA DE MELLO’S DEATH ‘BITTER BLOW’ FOR UNITED NATIONS,

SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan was issued today at Headquarters:

The loss of Sergio Vieira de Mello is a bitter blow for the United Nations, and for me personally.