PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICE
| Press Briefing |
PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS SECURITY AND SAFETY SERVICE
Security arrangements for the General Debate during the 57th General Assembly, involving restrictions on journalists and vehicular traffic approaching United Nations Headquarters, have been based on the assumption that the threat level is at its highest, said the Deputy Chief of the UN Security and Safety Services, Joseph Martella, at a press briefing today. Also participating in the briefing was the Chief of the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, Sonia Lecca.
Asked to elaborate on his description of the “threat level [being] at the highest”, Mr. Martella assured correspondents that no specific threats had been received by the United Nations, but security arrangements had been worked out at that level.
He said First Avenue, from 42nd Street to 46th or 48th Street would be closed to vehicular traffic to allow motorcades ease of passage. The pedestrian crossing at 48th Street would remain open, but at 49th Street there would be a United Nations checkpoint. There would be occasional adjustments, and from Tuesday, journalists would only be allowed access to the parking lot during special hours. They were advised to carry their credentials at all times and to make sure of their points of entrance and departure.
Those journalists seeking to interact with delegates would only be allowed to do so from the second floor to the elevator banks but would be prevented from entering the General Assembly hall.
When asked by a journalist whether the media would be operating in “designated corralled areas”, Mr. Martella agreed that this would in fact be so. “You will not be allowed to mingle and do your job spontaneously”. Nevertheless, he noted, in response to another question, that security arrangements were largely the same as they had been for the 56th General Assembly.
In answer to questions about special concessions being made for some branches of the media, especially during the Thursday’s visit by United States President George Bush, Ms. Lecca said such arrangements could be made. She said a stakeout could also be arranged for the Secretariat entrance.
* *** *