Amid growing international anger over the spying activities of the National Security Agency, the US has assured the United Nations that the world body’s communications will not be monitored.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters yesterday that the world body has been “in touch” with relevant authorities in the US since the reports of the NSA’s spying and monitoring of phone conversations of 35 world leaders surfaced.
“We were indeed in touch with the US authorities. And I understand that the US authorities have given assurances that United Nations communications are not and will not be monitored,” Nesirky said when asked to comment on reports that the encryption system of the video-conferencing system of the UN had been broken into.
He said the “inviolability of diplomatic missions, including the United Nations, has been well-established in international law, and therefore, all Member States are expected to act accordingly.’’
The US is facing criticism from international leaders over revelations that the NSA carried out electronic surveillance and snooped in on the conversations of 35 world leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.