Secretary-General to appoint independent panel on Algiers bombing

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

On Friday, 11 January 2008, the Secretary-General received from the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security a preliminary report on circumstances leading up to the terrorist attack that took place a month earlier against United Nations premises in Algiers.

The Secretary-General has now decided to appoint an independent panel to establish all the facts concerning the Algiers attack and also to address strategic issues vital to the delivery and enhancement of staff security for the United Nations in its operations around the world.  The panel will seek the full cooperation of the Algerian governmental authorities.

The Secretary-General fully recognizes the global reality of the environments in which the United Nations operates and the need to work actively with Member State support to improve the security of the staff.

The composition of this independent panel, which will draw on international experts from outside the United Nations system, and its more detailed terms of references are expected to be announced shortly.

The Secretary-General reiterates his commitment to continue to work with Member States to improve the security of United Nations staff.

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For information media • not an official record