Kofi Annan worried by accusations of
spying on his communications
UN Secretary General spokesman
Fred Eckhard said this Wednesday that he did not
know the truth behind accusations made by a former
British government minister alleging illegal spying
on Kofi Annan’s communications.
“We would be very upset if this
were true,” Eckhard said, adding, “These activities
would put into question the integrity and privacy of
diplomatic communications, given that those who talk
to the Secretary General have the right to assume
that their conversations are confidential."
Fred Eckhard then referred to the
fact that Clare Short, the former British minister
former International Development, told the BBC that
the British government spied on UN officials during
the weeks leading up to the war against Iraq.
If the accusations were to be true, the Secretary
General is demanding an end to the practice, Eckhard
said, emphasizing that espionage in the UN is
illegal according to a convention approved in 1946.
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