August 19: Sergio Vieira de Mello in our memory
Sergio Vieira de Mello, the patron of the Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center (CCOPAB), died on August 19.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, this Honorable Brazilian, Sergio Vieira de Mello, worked for the United Nations for more than 34 years. He earned people’s respect due to the relevance of his services in the UN. His name is a solid reference in the international field as a great litigation administrator. He was always designated for hard missions that involved, among other challenges, the reconstruction of war-torn countries.
On 19 August 2003, as the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq, Vieira de Mello was a victim of a suicide attack that killed 21 people.
For many, he was the personification of the principles and ideals of the UN. With extraordinary energy to go to the field, courage as that of men of action, charisma of great leaders, flexibility, pragmatism and firmness, he always achieved significant results at the end of his negotiations, even the hardest ones.
Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General back then, used to say that Vieira de Mello was "the right person to solve any problem".
This brilliant Brazilian now lends his name to the historical designation of CCOPAB, continuously inspiring the hearts and minds of the blue berets and civilian partners who have contributed to our Unit.
We record our admiration and our reference, eager to continue to contribute to a fairer and more humane world, as was the constant struggle of Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Translation: LT Eduarda Coelho
