ID :
17805
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 18:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/17805
The shortlink copeid
Decisive steps to protect UN offices from terror attacks: Ban
Dharam Shourie
New York, Sept 2 (PTI) Making a resolve to protect U.N.
staff around the world fron terror attacks, the
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that "decisive steps" were
under way to beef-up security in offices world over.
Admitting that "we cannot eliminate risk" altogether the
Ban said, "I am determined to do all to protect the staff
world wide."
Ban was in Geneva, yesterday, to meet the families of the
victims and survivors of the deadly 2003 terrorist attack on
the world body's headquarters in Iraq which left 22 dead,
including the top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and more
then 150 injured.
"I am determined to do all we can to prevent such
tragedies from happening again," Ban said at a ceremony to
commemorate the fifth anniversary of the bombing.
Following last December's bombing of the UN offices in
Algiers, which killed 17 staff, the Organisation commissioned
the Independent Panel on Safety and Security to do a worldwide
review of U.N. security. Ban vowed to act on its
recommendations.
"Rest assured that I have moved decisively to ensure that
we take every possible measure to protect our staff around the
world," he said.
At the same time, he emphasized the need to address the
root of the problem.
"Too many people in the world do not understand what the
U.N. does, or its role as an impartial friend to all. This
remains one of our most significant strategic communications
challenges," he stated.
Monday's ceremony follows a commemoration held in New
York on August 19, at which Ban paid tribute to some of the
organization's "best and bravest" who gave their lives five
years ago.
"No words can do justice to what they gave us. No acts
can right the injustice of their deaths," the
Secretary-General told those gathered in Geneva, adding that
the only way to honour their legacy is to ensure that the U.N.
continues to help the Iraqi people while protecting its staff
– there and everywhere.
He pointed out that the U.N.'s work in Iraq continues on
many fronts, including helping seek a compromise on the
impasse in Parliament and addressing the sensitive issue of
internal boundaries.
New York, Sept 2 (PTI) Making a resolve to protect U.N.
staff around the world fron terror attacks, the
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that "decisive steps" were
under way to beef-up security in offices world over.
Admitting that "we cannot eliminate risk" altogether the
Ban said, "I am determined to do all to protect the staff
world wide."
Ban was in Geneva, yesterday, to meet the families of the
victims and survivors of the deadly 2003 terrorist attack on
the world body's headquarters in Iraq which left 22 dead,
including the top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello and more
then 150 injured.
"I am determined to do all we can to prevent such
tragedies from happening again," Ban said at a ceremony to
commemorate the fifth anniversary of the bombing.
Following last December's bombing of the UN offices in
Algiers, which killed 17 staff, the Organisation commissioned
the Independent Panel on Safety and Security to do a worldwide
review of U.N. security. Ban vowed to act on its
recommendations.
"Rest assured that I have moved decisively to ensure that
we take every possible measure to protect our staff around the
world," he said.
At the same time, he emphasized the need to address the
root of the problem.
"Too many people in the world do not understand what the
U.N. does, or its role as an impartial friend to all. This
remains one of our most significant strategic communications
challenges," he stated.
Monday's ceremony follows a commemoration held in New
York on August 19, at which Ban paid tribute to some of the
organization's "best and bravest" who gave their lives five
years ago.
"No words can do justice to what they gave us. No acts
can right the injustice of their deaths," the
Secretary-General told those gathered in Geneva, adding that
the only way to honour their legacy is to ensure that the U.N.
continues to help the Iraqi people while protecting its staff
– there and everywhere.
He pointed out that the U.N.'s work in Iraq continues on
many fronts, including helping seek a compromise on the
impasse in Parliament and addressing the sensitive issue of
internal boundaries.
