[autom.vertaling] Romano Prodi drukt verontwaardiging bij aanval over het Bureau van de V.N. in Bagdad uit (en)

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, has this afternoon sent a message to Kofi Annan, expressing the Commission's outrage at the barbaric attack on civilians working at the United Nations Office in Baghdad. The Commission deeply regrets the loss of life and the injuries caused, both to Iraqis and international staff, and we offer our condolences to the families of those affected.

The work of the United Nations is essential to rebuilding a stable and prosperous Iraq. It has been among the strongest advocates of a rapid and effective transfer of power to the Iraqi people. The targeting of its staff and of Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello is therefore an attack on the future of Iraq and all of its people.

Together with other recent attacks on international personnel, this attack will seriously hamper the ability of the international community to provide much needed humanitarian aid and will be a blow to its efforts to prepare for rapid reconstruction of the country. The European Commission remains determined to work with its international partners to support the UN in its vital role.