In Baghdad, Guterres confirms that and will never forget to have killed employees of the Canal Hotel Attacks

António Guterres spoke during a wreath ceremony in a monument in Baghdad to honor the victims of the Canal Hotel's bombing on August 19, 2003 – the worst terrorist attack in the UN history.

Twenty-two people were killed, including the then UN special representative for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello. More than 100 others were injured and several survivors took part in the ceremony.

Families still mourn

Mr. Guterres told the audience that “for a long time for 22 years, but we will never forget our colleagues who were killed in the bombing of the Canal Hotel that day.”

These employees “were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and friends who still mourned around those who knew and loved them,” he said.

“We will always remember your leader Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was also killed in the attack. We will be among the survivors whose life has been changed forever,” he added.

“And we will remember the brave colleagues and others who hurried on this terrible day and in the days and weeks afterwards to show us the best of the humanitarian spirit.”

A homage and memory

Mr. Guterres said the monument was a tribute to her life and your contributions to people in Iraq. It also serves as a memory of how far the country has come since 2003.

He noticed that the women and men of the United Nations tirelessly worked with the courageous and resistant people in Iraq to support their search for stability, development and peace.

He emphasized that the monument in particular is “a clear memory of the vital work that our organization does all over the world – and the dangers that our people are exposed to in the execution of this work”.

Remember humanitarians worldwide

Five years after the attack, the general assembly of the UN passed a resolution in which August 19 was described as a humanitarian day worldwide.

This date “was” transformed “forever from one day of unimaginable horror and tragedy into a global day of solemn memory of all humanitarian – inside and outside the organization,” said Guterres.

“Your bravery, your commitment and your conviction that a better future is possible will always inspire us. And like those whose life was lost on August 19, 2003, your victims and contributions to our world – and to our vital distance of peace – will never be forgotten.”

Meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister

The Secretary General was in Baghdad to take part in the summit of the Arab states' league. He also met with high-ranking Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

During the talks on Sunday, they discussed developments in Iraq and in the region as well as the remaining time of the UN assistance mission for Iraq (Unami).

The Secretary General confirmed that the UN is still obliged to continue to support the government and the people in Iraq after leaving the mission.

Unami has been in the country since 2003 and is working on completing his mandate at the end of the year.