UN Secretary-General Envoy Concludes Baghdad Visit
04 November 2009
Baghdad-4 November 2009-At the request of the Government of Iraq, the Secretary General dispatched Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs (ASG) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco and a team of advisors from United Nations Headquarters in New York, to conduct preliminary consultations with the Government on issues related to Iraq’s security and sovereignty.
Mr. Fernandez-Taranco said, “I would like to take this opportunity to express the United Nations’ deepest condolences to the Government and the people of Iraq for the tragic loss of life and the wounding of many more in the deplorable bomb attacks against the Government buildings in Baghdad on 19 August and 25 October 2009.”
He noted that these attacks were strongly condemned by the entire international community, including the Secretary General and the Security Council of the United Nations. It is of particular concern that the attacks of 19 August and 25 October were aimed at the sovereign institutions of the State in an apparent attempt to undermine progress achieved in Iraq to date.
During their three day visit to Baghdad, Mr. Fernandez-Taranco and the team met with Prime Minister Al Maliki, Foreign Minister Zebari, as well as a number of other ministers and high ranking GoI officials. They heard detailed accounts of the attacks and their impact. Mr. Fernandez-Taranco will report directly to the Secretary General on the consultations and the views of the Government of Iraq for his further consideration.
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