UN chief visits Algiers bombing sites

19/12/2007

One week after terrorist bombings shook the Algerian capital, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon travelled to the scenes to honour UN workers killed and send a message to terrorist groups that the organisation is undaunted by the attacks.

By Nazim Fethi for Magharebia in Algiers – 19/12/07

[Getty Images] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the organisations would continue their work in Algiers

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was in Algiers on Tuesday (December 18th) to visit the scenes of last week's bombings and to reaffirm the UN’s determination to continue its work in Algeria. The explosions claimed 41 lives, including 17 UN employees.

Describing the twin attacks on the UN’s offices in the district of Hydra and the Constitutional Court building as "a huge tragedy" for Algeria and the UN, Ban said he was "still in shock" after visiting the scene.

"We shall not be intimidated by terrorist attacks [and] all the UN’s agencies will go on working in Algeria," the UN chief said. He noted that the UN will soon have new office facilities in Algiers to replace those destroyed by the blast.

Following his visit to the two suicide bombing sites and a private meeting with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the UN Secretary-General told reporters that terrorism is not specific to one state or a particular region, but rather "a worldwide threat requiring global efforts and co-operation from the entire international community."

"Terrorism is never justified," he added. "It must be condemned in the name of humanity and the international community."

Speaking of the various programmes being pursued by the UN in Algeria, Ban expressed the UN’s solidarity with the Algerian nation in "its noble and difficult task" of combating terrorism. He said he believed it was important for Algeria and the UN to "work together closely to fight terrorism".

When asked about the use of new information and communications technologies by terrorist groups, Ban said that the Internet and websites have become "important means" of communication but that they "must be used for good objectives".

Noting that the international community had suffered "greatly" from terrorist attacks, Ban said the issue required "a global convention" to fight terrorism such as the UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. However, with regard to a possible definition of terrorism to be adopted by the international community, Ban commented that "this is not an appropriate time" to speak of an "exact" definition of the phenomenon.

During his one-day visit, Ban also met with Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and staff from both the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN development Programme (UNDP).