UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations plans to counter potential terrorist threats by spending over 58 million dollars to beef up system-wide security in 2002-2003.
The new security measures - including bullet-proof glass in conference rooms and blast-proof trash receptacles - will also extend to UN centres in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Beirut and Santiago.
The largest slice of the proposed budget, about 26 million dollars, will be spent securing the 39-storey, glass-fronted UN building on New York’s East River, which serves as the headquarters to the 189-member world body.
The proposed allocation is over and above the 28.2 million dollars already earmarked for “safety and security” in the UN’s 2002-2003 budget. The corresponding figure for 2000-2001 was 27.7 million dollars.
The additional expenditure has been prompted by several bomb threats against the United Nations after last year’s Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Since then, the headquarters building has been evacuated thrice, either because of bomb threats or as a precautionary measure.
Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, widely believed to be the master-mind behind the attacks on the United States, publicly threatened the United Nations last year and accused western nations of manipulating the world body.
In a report to the general assembly, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says an assessment of UN premises, particularly in New York, Vienna and Geneva, has “indicated a need for substantial strengthening of security protection”.
Under-secretary-general al for management, Joseph Connor, said that although the proposed expenditure is a new item on the already-strained UN budget, he was confident the general assembly would approve it.
The UN budget for 2002-2003 is about 2.6 billion dollars. The request for extra funding comes at a time when the cast-strapped body is on an austerity drive that includes cutbacks on late night meetings and on central air-conditioning and heating in the building.
An Asian diplomat said the proposal for new security measures is not likely to be challenged “because of the urgent need to strengthen ourselves against any possible terrorist attacks”.
The headquarters building houses about 4,500 staffers while the general assembly hall, the security council chamber and other committee rooms are regularly used by over 2,500 diplomats assigned to the 189 foreign missions in New York city.
The annual general assembly sessions are also traditionally addressed by over 60 to 70 world leaders, warranting additional security for visiting heads of state and government.—Dawn/The InterPress News Service.