WORLD LEBANESE CULTURAL UNION
WORLD SECRETARY GENERAL
www.wlcu.org/www.wlcu.com

Press Release:
September 9, 2003
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The WLCU condemns the attack against the United Nations
Headquarters in Baghdad and stigmatizes the death of ambassador de Mello

New York, August 29, 2003. WLCU

Open letter addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations
The Honorable Dr Kofi Anan

Dear Secretary General:

It is with great regrets and sorrow that the World Lebanese Cultural Union received the tragic news of the horrific attack against the United Nations building in Baghdad and the subsequent massacre of UN workers from all nationalities as well as and Iraqi citizens. We were particularly affected by the death of Ambassador Sergio de Mello, your representative in Iraq.

This cowardly attack against the United Nations, while the latter was seeking the re-stabilization of Iraq and working on helping the Iraqi population, is indicative of the threat of international Terrorism on civil societies. The perpetrators, and those who have praised them and supported them for years are a direct threat against the international society. Nations in the Middle East, which seeks Peace, freedom, and social advancement fully rejects these methods and ideologies and stand by the United Nations in their quest for humanitarian assistance.

We, as an INGO, representing the Lebanese Diaspora around the world, declare our support to the role of the United Nations in Iraq and in the region. We not only claim UNSC resolution 520 as a platform for the resolving of the Lebanese crisis, but call on the United Nations to increase its programs and activities around the Middle East, as a presence which brings hope to the peoples in suffering.

We consider Ambassador de Mello -native of Brazil- and his companions as heroes of the international society and of a better and more humane Middle East. On behalf of more then 12 million people from Lebanese descent, including five million Brazilians from Lebanese roots, we extend to you and to the organization our sincere condolences and expression of solidarity.

In this regard, the WLCU, -as an INGO- will initiate a program of socioeconomic cooperation with the civil society of Iraq. We offer this initiative as an INGO contribution to international efforts to rebuilt Iraq under the auspices of the United Nations. We hereby put any appropriate resource available for that purpose at the service of the United Nations involvement in that country. We hope our initiative to come, would encourage a cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq's civil societies, with the support of the Lebanese emigres -the largest Middle Eastern Diaspora.

With our best regards
Joe Baini/ President

Walid Phares, Ph.D.
Secretary General