Monday, March 24, 2008

UN Special. CHERS AMIS DE SERGIO. ANNE WILLEM BIJLEVELD, PRÉSIDENT DU COMITÉ DE DIRECTION. LAURENT VIEIRA DE MELLO, PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL DE FONDATION

UN Special
UN Special N° 671 Mars · March • 2008 ONU

(FR) Avec les bureaux de l’
ONU à Alger pris récemment pour cible, nous avons revécu la terrible attaque du 19 août 2003 contre le siège des Nations Unies à Bagdad, au cours de laquelle notre cher ami, Sergio Vieira de Mello et vingt et un de ses collègues ont perdu la vie. Cette tragédie, il y a de cela quatre ans et demi, a marqué le début de la spirale de violence en Irak, rapportée encore quotidiennement par les médias. Les événements à Alger nous ont montré que l’attaque du Canal Hotel n’était malheureusement pas un acte isolé.

Si Sergio était encore parmi nous aujourd’hui, il aurait été passionnément impliqué dans la résolution d’une telle situation, en combattant tout particulièrement l’intolérance à l’origine de ces attaques. Il l’aurait fait dans son style diplomatique habituel, à savoir en consultant chaque partie impliquée afin d’identifier les intérêts de chacun et, dans le dialogue, établir un plan d’action concret. Il avait une vision de l’action humanitaire basée sur une grande confiance en l’humanité mais aussi une approche pratique des contraintes de la coexistence quotidienne. C’était une vision idéaliste et pragmatique à la fois. C’est dans le but de pérenniser la vision de Sergio et pour encourager des initiatives semblables que nous nous permettons de vous écrire, comme Ami de Sergio.

Après maintes consultations et réflexions sur la façon de continuer au mieux le travail de Sergio, quelques-uns de ses amis et sa famille ont créé, à
Genève, la Fondation qui porte son nom.

La
Fondation Sergio Vieira de Mello, au statut international régi par la loi suisse, s’est donnée pour but de continuer la mission de Sergio à travers :
• La remise d’un prix annuel « Sergio Vieira de Mello » récompensant des personnes, institutions ou communautés qui, par leur travail exceptionnel, oeuvrent pour la réconciliation entre personnes ou parties divisées par un conflit.
• Une conférence annuelle en partenariat avec l’
Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales et du Développement (HEID),donnée aux alentours du 15 mars, date d’anniversaire de Sergio.
• Une bourse au nom de Sergio attribuée à quelques jeunes dont les familles furent victimes d’une crise humanitaire consécutive à un conflit armé.
• L’appui aux acteurs humanitaires, quelque soit leur employeur ou leur lieu d’action, pour leur sécurité et l’indépendance de leur travail.
• L’encouragement des initiatives et efforts en faveur de la réconciliation et de la coexistence pacifique entre personnes ou communautés séparées par un conflit.

M. Kofi Annan, ancien Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, a accepté d’être le Président d’Honneur de la Fondation et, en plus d’une généreuse contribution pour aider au lancement de nos activités, M. Annan donnera la première conférence à la mémoire de Sergio, le 17 mars 2008 à 18h30 au Centre International de Conférences de Genève, 17 Rue de Varembé. Ce sera le premier événement public de la Fondation et vous y êtes, bien entendu, cordialement invité.

Si vous souhaitez encourager le travail de la Fondation, qui, de par sa nature non lucrative, est amenée à faire appel à des personnes ou associations pour son financement, vous pouvez apporter votre soutien, sous forme de donation annuelle en tant qu’«Ami de Sergio» au sein de la Fondation.Votre contribution sera très appréciée et utilisée par la Fondation pour promouvoir les valeurs que Sergio a passé sa vie à défendre.
Les coordonnées bancaires de la Fondation sont les suivantes :
Fondation Sergio Vieira de Mello
UBS/ONU Genève
Compte No: 0279-282012.01M
IBAN : CH500027927928201201M
BIC : UBSWCHZH80A

Nous avons essayé dans la mesure du possible d’inclure tous les amis de Sergio dans notre liste de distribution, mais il se peut malgré tout que des personnes n’aient pu être contactées. Si vous connaissez des personnes intéressées à rejoindre les « Amis de Sergio», n’hésitez pas à les encourager à prendre contact avec la Fondation.
Pour plus d’information, nous vous encourageons à consulter notre site web
www.sergiovdmfoundation.org
. Vous avez aussi la possibilité de souscrire à la newsletter pour rester informé des activités de la Fondation.


(EN) DEAR FRIENDS OF SERGIO
ANNE WILLEM BIJLEVELD, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
LAURENT VIEIRA DE MELLO, PRESIDENT OF THE FOUNDING COMMITTEE
With the recent targeting of the
UN premises in Algiers, we relived the terrible attack of 19 August 2003 against United Nations Headquarters in Baghdad in which our close friend, Sergio Vieira de Mello, together with twenty-one of his colleagues, were killed. That tragic event, four and half years ago, marked the beginning of the spiral into the daily violence in Iraq that we continue to see played out daily in the media. The events in Algiers have shown that the Canal bombing was unfortunately not an isolated event.

Sergio, if alive today, would have been passionately committed to working with others to resolve such situations, especially by addressing the intolerance that lies at the root of these attacks. He would have done it in his usual diplomatic way by marshalling all interested parties to pursue common interests identified through dialogue and reflected in a workable plan of action. His was a vision of humanitarian action based on the highest expectations of mankind, but grounded in an appreciation of what day-to-day coexistence required. It was a vision of idealism and pragmatism. It is to keep this vision of Sergio alive and to support much needed ongoing similar initiatives by others that we are writing to you, as one of Sergio’s friends.

After much consultation and reflection on how best to continue the work of Sergio, a few of his friends and his family have created a Foundation in his name in
Geneva.

The
Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation has been established as an international entity under Swiss law to continue Sergio’s mission and fulfil his vision through :
•An Annual Prize in Sergio’s name awarded to individuals, institutions or communities in recognition of their outstanding and unique work for peaceful reconciliation between peoples and parties in conflict.
•An Annual Memorial Lecture in partnership with the Graduate Institute of
International and Development Studies (HEID) on or around 15 March (Sergio’s birthday).
•A Fellowship in Sergio’s name to be awarded to a selected number of outstanding young people whose families were victims of humanitarian crisis resulting from armed conflict.
•Advocating for the security and independence of humanitarian actors, wherever they may be operating andwhomever they may work for.
•Supporting initiatives and efforts to promote peaceful reconciliation and co-existence between peoples and communities divided by conflict.

Former UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, has agreed to be the Patron of the Foundation and apart from a generous contribution to start our activities, he has agreed to deliver the first Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture on 17 March 2008 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 15 Rue de Varembé at 18 h30. It will be the Foundation’s first public event to which you are cordially invited.

If you wish to support the work of the Foundation established to honour and preserve the memory of Sergio, which by virtue of its non-for-profit nature will be looking to individuals and associations to support its work, we would be grateful if you could consider a contribution to our work, on a yearly basis donation and therefore become “Friend of Sergio” within the Foundation.
Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and be used by the Foundation in activities geared towards propagating the values which Sergio spent his life defending.
The Foundation’s account details are as follows :
Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
UBS/ONU Geneva Branch
Account No. : 0279-282012.01M
IBAN : CH500027927928201201M
BIC : UBSWCHZH80A

We have tried to the best of our knowledge to include all of Sergio’s friends on our mailing list. There may, however, be persons who have not been contacted. If you know someone who would be interested to be part of the “Friends of Sergio”, do not hesitate to encourage him/her to contact us. If you wish to have more information about the Foundation, we would encourage you to consult our website
www.sergiovdmfoundation.org. You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter, to be kept informed of the Foundation’s activities.
Link,
http://www.unspecial.org/UNS671/t22.html, consultado a 24 de Março de 2008.


Tuesday, March 18, 2008

First Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

The first Annual Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation given by Mr. Kofi Annan, took place yesterday, Monday March 17, 2008, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of about 1'000 persons.
Fonte,
http://graduateinstitute.ch/corporate/cache/bypass/page21.html?evenementId=11209, consultado a 18 de Março de 2008.


Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivers his message during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. Sergio Vieira de Mello was killed in the Canal Hotel Bombing in Iraq along with 21 other members of his staff on Aug 19, 2003.


Annie Vieira de Mello, widow of Sergio Vieira de Mello, listens to Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, not in the picture, during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation, at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi).
Fonte,http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Iraq-Sergio-Vieira-de-Mello-United-Nations-Secretary-General-Geneva2C-Switzerland-Vieira-de-Mello/ss/events/iraq/082701iraqplane/im:/080317/481/ed1ae9511cc940c08970fb9bab564de4/ ,consultado a 18 de Março de 2008.


Former UN United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivers his message during the first Memorial Lecture of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP).
Fonte,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23678062/displaymode/1176/, consultado a 17 de Março de 2008.


Monday, March 17, 2008

Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation to honour peacemakers | Annie Vieira de Mello interview

Vieira de Mello Foundation to honour peacemakers

14 Mar 2008
Source: Reuters
By Stephanie Nebehay


GENEVA, March 14 (Reuters) -Shortly after a massive bomb killed the
U.N. envoy in Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello in August 2003, his grieving widow and sons knew they wanted to perpetuate his life's work on behalf of victims of armed conflict.
In an interview,
Annie Vieira de Mello spoke of the strong idealism of the dashing Brazilian who worked in hotspots from Cambodia to Kosovo and Timor-Leste during his 30-year career with the United Nations.
Her husband -- tipped by some as a possible future U.N. Secretary-General -- was among 22 people killed when a truck loaded with explosives hit the Canal Hotel, the U.N. compound in Baghdad following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
She and their sons Laurent and Adrien were spending a summer day along Lake Geneva when word came of what is still the most deadly attack on the world body set up in 1945.
"As soon as the children and I received so many tributes and saw the outpouring of sympathy after the event, we thought he still had a role to play," Annie Vieira de Mello told Reuters at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva, a hub for both humanitarian aid and human rights.
"It was the obvious thing to do, because when you are in mourning and pain, you want to try to hang onto those you've lost," the elegant French woman said quietly over tea.
With friends and family, she set up a Swiss-based foundation to promote dialogue for peace in the name of her husband (
http://www.sergiovdmfoundation.org/).
Its patron, former U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, will give the first annual Sergio Vieira de Mello memorial lecture in Geneva on Monday, two days after what would have been the 60th birthday of the slain U.N. envoy.
The foundation will award fellowships to young people whose families are caught up in war, as well as an annual prize in recognition of work to broker peace between parties to conflict.

"It could be a doctor or professor who takes political risks to encourage dialogue," said Annie Vieira de Mello, who is mobilising funds from U.N. agencies, governments, and private individuals for the awards.
"We hope my husband's name can bring international recognition and support that might protect this person and encourage him or her to continue," she said.
Sergio was known for his efforts to promote understanding in difficult conditions. He held talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat while serving in the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon in the early 1980s, and successfully sought a decade later to help resolve the fate of Vietnamese boat people.
"He was a man of action, of negotiations, who liked meeting people and trying to understand conflicts," his widow said. "He liked to bring people together to find a solution, which is why the foundation is based on the idea of dialogue between communities in conflict."
(Editing by Laura MacInnis and Paul Casciato)
Link,
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1418740.htm, consultado a 17 de Março de 2008.

(Português)
Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello homenageará mediadores de conflito

GENEBRA, Suíça - Pouco depois do atentado a bomba que matou em 2003 o então enviado da
Organização das Nações Unidas ao Iraque, Sergio Vieira de Mello, a viúva e seus filhos decidiram que iriam continuar com o trabalho dele em nome das vítimas de conflitos armados.
Em uma entrevista,
Annie Vieira de Mello falou sobre o grande idealismo deste brasileiro notável, que trabalhou em pontos de conflito de várias regiões do globo, do Camboja ao Timor Leste, durante sua carreira de 30 anos na
ONU.
Seu marido, apontado por alguns como o possível futuro Secretário-Geral da ONU, estava entre as 22 pessoas mortas quando um caminhão carregado com explosivos atingiu o Canal Hotel, o complexo da ONU em Bagdá. O ataque ocorreu pouco depois da invasão do Iraque liderada pelos EUA.
Annie e seus filhos, Laurent e Adrien, estavam à beira do lago Genebra, em dia de verão, quando ouviram a notícia sobre o ataque, até hoje o mais violento contra o órgão internacional desde sua criação, em 1945.
"Depois que as crianças e eu recebemos tantas homenagens e vimos as demonstrações de empatia, acreditamos que ele ainda tinha um papel a desempenhar", afirmou Annie à Reuters, na sede européia dos órgãos de ajuda humanitária da ONU, em Genebra, cidade que concentra várias entidades do tipo.
"Para nós, isso era o mais óbvio a fazer porque, quando alguém está de luto e sofrendo, essa pessoa deseja apegar-se àquilo que perdeu", afirmou Annie, uma elegante francesa.
Com amigos e familiares, ela criou uma Fundação com sede na Suíça para promover o diálogo em busca da paz. A Fundação leva o nome do marido (
www.sergiovdmfoundation.org).
O seu patrono, o
ex-secretário-geral da ONU Kofi Annan, fará a aula inaugural memorial chamada Sergio Vieira de Mello, em Genebra, na segunda-feira, dois dias depois daquele que seria o aniversário de 60 anos do brasileiro.
A Fundação concederá bolsas para jovens cujas famílias são vítimas da guerra, bem como um prémio anual em reconhecimento ao trabalho dos que se empenham para mediar conflitos.
"Esse seria, por exemplo, um médico ou um professor que se expõe a perigos a fim de encorajar o diálogo", afirmou Annie, que está requisitando dinheiro de agências da ONU, de governos de vários países e de pessoas físicas para pagar pelos prémios.
"Esperamos que o nome do meu marido possa dar reconhecimento e apoio a essa pessoa, incentivando-a a prosseguir em sua luta", afirmou.
O brasileiro ficou conhecido por seus esforços para promover a compreensão em situações complicadas. Entre outras atividades, manteve negociações com o líder palestino Yasser Arafat quando trabalhou para as Forças Interinas da ONU no Líbano, no começo dos anos 1980.
"Ele era um homem de acção, de negociações, que gostava de conhecer pessoas e tentar entender os conflitos", disse Annie.
"Ele gostava de juntar as pessoas para encontrar uma solução, por isso a fundação é baseada na ideia de diálogo entre comunidades em conflito."

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello

Colegas, amigos e a família de Sergio Vieira de Mello, criaram em 2007, em Genève, na Suiça, a Fundação Sergio Vieira de Mello - Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation
- para dar continuidade aos seus ideais humanitários e promover a resolução pacífica de conflitos.


Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation

(...)
Purpose
Dedicated to promoting dialogue for the peaceful resolution of conflict, the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation has been established as an international entity under Swiss law to continue Sergio’s mission and fulfill his vision through:

• An Annual Prize in his name awarded to individuals, institutions or communities in recognition of their outstanding and unique work undertaken to achieve peaceful reconciliation between peoples and parties in conflict.
• An Annual Memorial Lecture in collaboration with the
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (HEID) on or around 15 March.
• A Fellowship in Sergio’s name to be awarded to a selected number of outstanding young people whose parents or family members were victims of humanitarian crises resulting from armed conflict.
• Supporting initiatives and efforts that promote peaceful reconciliation and co-existence between peoples and communities divided by conflict.
• Advocating for the security and independence of humanitarian actors, wherever they may be operating and whomever they may work for. (...).
Link,http://www.sergiovdmfoundation.org/en/foundation_purpose.html, consultado a 16 de Março de 2008.

Annual Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture | Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation


Annual Sergio Vieira de Mello Memorial Lecture
Le 17.03.2008 18:30
Kofi Annan, Former UN Secretary General; Patron,
Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation; Senior Fellow, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies - Centre International de Conférences Genève (CICG); Salle 2, Rue de Varembé 17, 1202 Genève -
Under the Patronage of Mrs Calmy-Rey, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (HEID)
Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation