UN to investigate bugging claims

The United Nations said on Monday it plans to contact the United States over a report the US National Security Agency bugged the UN’s New York headquarters, warning that countries are expected to respect the world body’s diplomatic inviolability.

Citing secret US documents obtained by fugitive former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, German weekly Der Spiegel reported on Sunday that the US succeeded in gaining access to the internal UN video conferencing system in 2012.

“We’re aware of the reports and we intend to be in touch with the relevant authorities on this,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.

He said that international laws, such as the 1961 Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations, protect functions of the UN, diplomatic missions and other international organizations.

“Therefore, member states are expected to act accordingly to protect the inviolability of diplomatic missions,” Haq said.

Der Spiegel also said the European Union and the UN’s Vienna-based nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, were among those targeted by US intelligence.

According to the documents, the NSA runs a bugging program in more than 80 embassies and consulates worldwide called the “Special Collection Service”.

“The surveillance is intensive and well organized and has little or nothing to do with warding off terrorists,” wrote Der Spiegel.

The tapping scheme succeeded in the summer of 2012, the magazine said, citing secret documents disclosed by Snowden.