MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IGOR IVANOV UTTERANCES IN RELATION TO THE DEATH OF SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL FOR IRAQ SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

In relation to the death of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov said the following:

"It was with profound sorrow that I learned of the death as the result of the terrorist act in Baghdad of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello.

"I well knew him personally. We met and talked more than once. Sergio Vieira de Mello gave years to serving the lofty ideals of the United Nations, the cause of strengthening international peace and security. He was truly a talented professional, a sound personality; he selflessly and effectively worked in many conflict regions of the planet and made a significant personal contribution to settlement in Cambodia, Kosovo and East Timor.

"Vieira de Mello sincerely wished to help the Iraqi people in overcoming the consequences of military conflict and organizing a peaceful life. He perceived this as his personal duty, and agreed to take up the post of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq at the most difficult and risky period - immediately after the end of hostilities. In September he was to return to Geneva in order to continue performing his functions as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Unfortunately, these plans were not fated to materialize.

"It is my belief that we are duty bound to carry on the work begun by Sergio Vieira de Mello in Iraq. The essential precondition for advancing an Iraqi settlement is the participation on a broad collective basis of the whole international community under the aegis of the UN."

August 20, 2003