On Thursday, August 17, the Security Council paid tribute to the Chilean-Swedish citizen Zaida Catalán and her American colleague Michael Sharp, who were assassinated while carrying out their duties as experts of the 1533 Sanctions Committee on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March of this year. The mother and sister of Zaida Catalán, María Morseby and Elizabeth Catalán Morseby, and the parents of Michael Sharp, Michele Miller Sharp and John Sharp, attended the tribute.
The Chilean government reiterates its deep condolences and solidarity to the families of Michael and Zaida, whose mother and sister we have accompanied since the beginning of this tragedy.
Chile also supports the recommendation made by the 1533 Sanctions Committee expert group to the Security Council in their last report: "to mandate the Secretary-General to establish an independent international investigation of the murder of Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalán to gather evidence to identify the perpetrators, their support networks, and motives."
Chile will continue to work together with the authorities of the United Nations and the governments that are conducting national investigations to clarify the facts and to bring the perpetrators to justice.