Annan and UN council condemn Turkey blasts ( 2003-11-21 08:46) (Reuters)
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the
15-member U.N. Security Council condemned the suicide bombings in Turkey on
Thursday, saying those responsible needed to be brought to justice.
Appearing before reporters, Annan offered his "deepest condolences" to the
governments of Turkey and Britain and the families of the estimated 27 people
killed in the attacks that wrecked the British consulate and the London-based
HSBC Bank building in Istanbul.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the
15-member U.N. Security Council condemned the suicide bombings in Turkey
on Nov.20, 2003, saying those responsible needed to be brought to justice.
Annan is seen at the United Nations in New York on October 14.
[Reuters]
"Let me say that we all woke up to another shocking news, and I condemn
totally the latest terrorist attacks in Istanbul," he said. "Those who carried
out these attacks have no respect for human rights and we should condemn utterly
their actions."
The Security Council later on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning the
Istanbul bombings "in the strongest terms" and saying that "such acts, like any
act of terrorism" threatened peace and security.
It urged all states to cooperate in efforts to "find and bring to justice the
perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks."
Annan also said he preferred to keep U.N. political staff out of neighboring
Iraq and instead have them commute to Baghdad, whenever needed, from an
office in the region.
Annan, who withdrew all political staff from Iraq and all foreign staff from
Baghdad, is under pressure to have the United Nations play a role in
restoring democracy, especially after the U.S.-led coalition shuts down civilian
operations in June 2004 and an Iraqi provisional government takes power.
He said the United Nations, whose headquarters in Baghdad was bombed on Aug.
19, was monitoring the security situation to determine whether or where to place
staff.
Twenty-two people were killed in the August bombing, including the chief of
mission, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
But Annan made clear he preferred to have foreign political officers
commuting to Iraq rather than basing them there.
"I think we could conceivably have an office in the region with staff paying
regular visits and having consultations in Iraq and going back to their base in
the region," Annan said.
"So there would be constant back and forth and direct consultations with some
people in Iraq -- this is what we have in mind," he said.
Annan said he believed U.N. ambassadors were conscious of the U.N. security
problems because "we live in a rather dangerous world and a difficult world."
"We have seen bombs and attacks go on all around us. We have seen the U.N.
itself and the blue flag targeted directly," Annan said. "We have seen attacks
against the neutral Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations."
