Sergio Vieira de Mello: A tribute from a friend and colleague

This week the television brought me the news of my friend's horrific death, of the attack on the offices of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Iraq and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The attack in Baghdad cut short the career of one of the finest UN diplomats in the history of the world body. He possessed and excelled in all the essential qualities required of a successful UN diplomat. He served the organization for 33 years, through some of its most difficult challenges, armed with a unique combination of intellect, wit, determination, hard work, charm, impartiality, the enviable powers of articulation and persuasion, and above all, dedication to the goals and objectives of the United Nations.

As the world learns of the enormity of our loss in the days ahead through eulogies to Sergio in the world media, those who had the privilege to know him and work with him in the UN will have to grapple with their personal loss for the passing away of an extraordinary friend and colleague. And for me, his passing away is doubly painful because of the loss of a very dear friend is compounded by the loss of a person who was very close to my country, Bangladesh. In that sense I consider his death a national loss.

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Sergio always remembered fondly his work in what was then East Pakistan, visiting remote parts of the Rangpur and other districts to determine whether it was safe for Bengali refugees to return. "Shamsul," he used to tell me, "I wish CNN was there when Bangladesh was going through those very difficult days before its creation, so that the entire world would know what was happening in that place. Many later instances of a similar nature which we are used to witnessing in recent years over the CNN pale into insignificance."

My friendship with Sergio grew over the next twenty years through our common involvement in refugee issues. When more than a million and a half Vietnamese refugees were fleeing their homes in rickety boats over the high seas, many thousands perishing in the process, Sergio's immense talents as a negotiator were invaluable. Only those privy to the negotiations to resolve the "boat people" problem know his tremendous contribution to ending the exodus: simultaneously convincing both the Vietnamese authorities and the international community of the need for a negotiated settlement of this long-festering humanitarian problem.

Those who knew him were constantly amazed by how he managed to work with a variety of factions even when he did not see eye to eye with them on substantive issues. This is because he understood that the only power the UN had in dealing with disputes that divide nations and societies is the art of persuasion, combined with sincerity and dedication to the cause of peace.

It is thus not difficult to understand why Sergio was involved on behalf of the UN in some of the most vexing problems confronting the international community: in Lebanon, as the Adviser to UN forces (1981); in Rwanda as the Humanitarian Coordinator (1996); in Kosovo as the Special UN Representative (1999); in East Timor as the Head of UN Operations (2000); and more recently in Iraq as the Special Representative of the Secretary general (2003). Apart from these more visible responsibilities, his roles in various activities relating to the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) made him the undisputed star of the organization for some 30 years. His work on behalf of the organization on issues relating to Sudan, Cyprus, Vietnam, the former Soviet Republics in transition, Mozambique, Peru, Yugoslav Republics and so many other places, will remain indelible in the annals of that organization.

I saw Sergio up close as he smoothed the painful process of transition from the former Soviet Union to the newly founded Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He oversaw the entire process, interacting with me in my parallel role in the Central Asian Republics. Later, Sergio and I were engaged in negotiating with the Taliban and other parties involved in the Afghan refugee problem and with the multiple parties involved with the Kurdish issue in Northern Iraq. During each of these delicate discussions, I felt keenly how much more difficult it would have been for us if he had not been involved. He was a master craftsman in the art.

Traveling and socializing with Sergio in many places and cities in the world, I knew the effect of his boyish charms on our hosts and new acquaintances, particularly of the opposite sex. Being around with him was thus great fun. Over the years I witnessed these debonair qualities of his blossom and flourish. Our friendship continued to deepen in the process. So when I took retirement from UNHCR in 1999, one of my more difficult tasks was to say good-bye to Sergio.

He had already left UNHCR for another UN job, but he was surprisingly emotional because I was returning to Bangladesh after many decades. He told me how much he would love to visit the country again. We last spoke in April. He had assumed the role of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. He pointed out to me that his new position would make it easier for him to come to Bangladesh. He looked forward to visiting me and my family in my own country.

The loss of Sergio is more than a personal loss; it is very much a national loss. He would have been a friend of this country for many more years: he was only 55 when killed. I have no doubt that some day he would have been the Secretary General of the UN, one with a soft corner in his heart for Bangladesh always.

Shamsul Bari is a retired UN civil servant.