Homeland Security

Annan, in Jordan following bombings, renews call for terrorism pact

11 November 2005 – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan renewed his call for a comprehensive counter-terrorism pact after he arrived in Amman, Jordan, today to express solidarity with its people and their king following this week’s suicide bombings on three hotels there that killed scores of people and injured more than 100 others.

Mr. Annan said that, if adopted by the end of this year, a comprehensive convention against terrorism “will be a wonderful New Year’s gift to the peoples of the world.”

Deploring the recent “heinous crime [that] claimed the live of Jordanians and citizens of other nations,” he noted that many of the victims of the terrorist bombings had been at a wedding party.

Mr. Annan reiterated his longstanding view that no ideology or cause can justify the killing of innocent people.

Afterwards, the Secretary-General called on King Abdullah and personally expressed his condolences. The King briefed the Secretary-General on measures that Jordan is taking to combat terrorism.

The Secretary-General then visited the sites of two of Wednesday’s attacks – the Grand Hyatt and Radisson Hotels.

Upon arrival in Amman, Mr. Annan met with the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Farouk Kasrawi. Later, he met with the UN Country Team and Amman-based staff of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

While the Secretary-General was meeting with the King, his wife, Nane Annan, accompanied by Queen Rania, went to Amman’s Jordan Hospital, where they spoke to children and adults injured in Wednesday’s bomb blast. Many of the victims at the hospital had also lost family members.