Statement by Commissioner Patten on the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello

Like many others around the world, I was appalled and saddened by the news of the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello. I worked with him for five years in Hong Kong when he was with the UNHCR dealing with the problem of Vietnamese migrants, worked with him again during his extremely successful tenure as the UN Representative in East Timor, and was looking forward to working with him in Iraq.

His murder is a terrible blow to all who believe that the best way of dealing with the world's problems is through international cooperation and through making the UN system more effective.

He was an outstanding international civil servant - a man of integrity, dedication and wisdom. The best way we can show our appreciation of all he has done is by committing ourselves to the causes for which he worked so selflessly and for which he has laid down his life.

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• Commissioner Patten's speech on Iraq at the EP (3/9/2003)
• Commission continues its humanitarian work in Iraq (21/8/2003)
• EU Presidency Statement - Terrorist attack against the UN Headquarters in Baghdad (19/8/2003)
• Iraq: message of condolence from Silvio Berlusconi to Kofi Annan (19/8/2003)
• EUHR Solana's statement following the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello in Baghdad (19/8/2003)
• Romano Prodi expresses outrage at attack on UN Office in Baghdad (19/8/2003)