For Immediate Release
August 21, 2003

Global Message

From remarks by Ambassador Paul Bremer, Presidential Envoy to Iraq, 8/20/03

"The governing counsel here in Iraq ... issued a statement which said that they are determined to go ahead, that these attacks were attacks on the Iraqi people, and called on friendly nations to support the efforts of the Iraqi people and the coalition to restore security here." --Ambassador Bremer on "Good Morning America," 8/20/03

We extend condolences to the families of all those who were killed and injured yesterday in the terrible attack on the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

These attacks remind us that the face of terrorism is ugly and evil whether it's in Baghdad or Jerusalem, as it was yesterday, or in New York or Washington.

Iraqi Police Chief Ahmed Ibrahim will announce any findings from his police force's investigation.

Iraq was, under Saddam Hussein, a state that supported terrorism. Going back a decade, terrorists, including Al Qaida were already in Iraq. After the war it appears that a number of terrorists from the Ansar al-Islam group have reentered Iraq. The Coalition is also concerned that other foreign terrorists have arrived.

The Iraq Governing Council issued a very strong statement condemning this as an attack against the Iraqi people, and saying that it would not deter them from rebuilding their country.

In the coming days, all of the diplomatic missions to Iraq will meet with the Coalition in Baghdad to discuss security arrangements.