The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe (COE), Ambassador Thorbjorn Jagland, has written a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Ban Ki-moon, over the deadly attack on the UN building in Abuja, which claimed several lives on Friday.
In his condolence message to Ban Ki-moon over the terrorist attack, Ambassador Jagland promised that the Council Of Europe would continue to support the Nigerian government as well as the UN.
A copy of the letter was made available to our correspondent in Abuja yesterday. The letter reads in part: “I know that this new senseless act of extremist violence will not intimidate the UN in carrying out its noble mission. I want the Secretary-General of the UN to count on the Council of Europe’s solidarity and supports.”
Expressing his shock and sadness over what he called “yet another attack” against the UN house and its officials in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the Council Of Europe urged President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to do everything within its disposal to bring the evil perpetrators to justice.
Jagland said, “While all the circumstances of the attack against the UN headquarters in Abuja have not been clarified, it is evident that this was another terrorist attack against your colleagues striving to protect and promote peace, security and social and economic development of the local population of the world.”
Also, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, also issued a statement in connection with the terrorist attack against the incident He criticised the ‘abhorrent’ attack which led the death of innocent people.
He added that it was particularly cynical that the barbaric act of terrorism was directed against the UN in Abuja and its officials that for years spared no efforts to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to the benefit of people of Nigeria as well as of the whole region.
He said, “I would like to convey my sympathy to the families and the governments of all who have perished in this terrorist attack and pay tribute to the United Nations and its staff for their unwavering dedication in their difficult missions. I hope that those who are responsible for this atrocity will be rapidly found and brought to justice.”