Baghdad: The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations participated in a ceremony commemorating the bombing of the UN headquarters, attended by Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres. The Mission emphasized that counterterrorism requires concerted efforts from the international community.

According to Iraqi News Agency, “The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations participated, in the presence of UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres, in the ceremony commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist bombing that targeted the UN headquarters in Baghdad in 2003, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release received by the Iraqi News Agency – INA.

The statement added that “the ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York, in front of the memorial to the victims of the bombing, where the Secretary-General laid a wreath in honor of the victims, followed by a minute of silence in their memory.”

Charg© d’Affaires ad interim Mohammed Sahib Majeed delivered a speech on behalf of the Republic of Iraq, commemorating the victims of the bombing, foremost among them Sergio Vieira de Mello and his colleagues, as well as the victims of the terrorist bombing that targeted the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Baghdad on August 19, 2009.

He emphasized that “terrorism knows no nationality, religion, or borders,” noting that “confronting it requires concerted efforts and a unified stance from the international community.”

“The Government of the Republic of Iraq offered thanks to the United Nations and humanitarian workers and their sacrifices in promoting peace and serving humanity,” he expressed.