Lakhdar Brahimi Mourns Iraqi IGC President Ezz El-Din Salim

Statement Attributable to Lakhdar Brahimi Special Advisor to the Secretary-General Baghdad, 17 May 2004 - The assassination of the Honourable President of the Governing Council Ezz El-Din Salim this morning in Baghdad came as a great shock to me and my colleagues from the United Nations. We condemn this criminal act which has taken the life of one of Iraq’s most loyal and patriotic citizens, a man who made every sacrifice for his country, who worked sincerely and selflessly so that Iraq may regain its sovereignty and strength. Mr. Salim gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and all those who got to know him. My delegation and I had just spent three days with Mr. Ezz El-Din Salim in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, where we were able to appreciate the depth of his knowledge, his broad mindedness, his political vision, his humanity and his profound belief in the ability of the citizens of Iraq to overcome this difficult phase in the life of their nation and to build the new Iraq. As soon we heard the tragic news this morning, we paid our respects to the members of the Governing Council. On this painful occasion, my delegation and I would like to extend our condolences to Mr. Ezz El-Din Salim’s family and friends, as well as to the Iraqi people. Lakhdar Brahimi Special Advisor to the Secretary-General Baghdad 17 May 2004