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This is a sad day for the United Nations and for the world. My thoughts
tonight are with the people of Iraq, with the 307 United Nations humanitarian
workers who remain in the country, and with all others whose lives are
in danger.
It is also a very sad day for me personally. Throughout this year I
have done everything in my power to ensure peaceful compliance with
Security Council resolutions, and so to avert the use of force.
This has not been an easy or a painless process. It has required patience,
determination and the will to seek peace even when all signs pointed
to war. However daunting the task, the United Nations had to try as
long as any hope of peace remained. I deeply regret that today these
efforts have proved insufficient.
What has happened cannot be reversed. Nor can any of us foresee the
future. All we know is that tomorrow, as yesterday, there will be still
an acute need, in Iraq and in the wider region, for humanitarian relief
and healing diplomacy. In both these tasks, the United Nations will
be ready, as ever, to play its part.
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