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.

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.)

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:

ACTING HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EXPRESSES

SHOCK, OUTRAGE OVER EXPLOSION IN BAGHDAD

The following statement was issued today by acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan:

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.

BAGHDAD ATTACK ‘ACT OF UNPROVOKED AND MURDEROUS VIOLENCE’ SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

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

SECURITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ISSUES NON-PAPER ON THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF PARAGRAPH 23 OF RESOLUTION 1483 (2003)

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION PAYS OUT $190 MILLION

TO 25 GOVERNMENTS AND ONE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 17 July (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Compensation Commission has made available today a total of $190,381,244.88 to 25 governments and one international organization for distribution to 1,069 successful claimants.

ESCWA POST-WAR MEETING ON IRAQ CONCLUDES; CALLS FOR A STRONGER UN ROLE

(Reissued as received.)