NSA spying row exacerbates amid UN, EU hacking allegationsAugust 27, 2013 - 10:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN has not commented directly on allegations that the US National Security Agency had hacked into the internal communications of both it and the EU, Belfast Telegraph said. The German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Sunday, August 25 that documents it obtained from Edward Snowden show the NSA secretly monitored the UN's internal video conferencing system by decrypting it last year. In three weeks, Der Spiegel said, the NSA increased the number of decrypted communications at the UN from 12 to 458. Not only that, but the intelligence agency also reportedly installed bugs in the European Union offices in Washington and infiltrated its computer network. Farhan Haq, a spokesman for the UN, said that "the inviolability of diplomatic missions, including the United Nations and other international organisations, whose functions are protected by the relevant international conventions like the Vienna Convention, has been well-established international law." He added: "Therefore, member-states are expected to act accordingly to protect the inviolability of diplomatic missions." The 1961 Vienna Convention regulates diplomatic issues and status among nations and international organizations. It says in part that a host country cannot search diplomatic premises or seize its documents or property. It also says the host government must permit and protect free communication between the diplomats of the mission and their home country. Wiretapping and eavesdropping are nothing new - it was an open secret that both the US and Soviet Union used the techniques on each other - as well as on their own citizens - during the cold war. Since its end, the use of covert spying has continued at much the same level. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Court in Azerbaijan extends former Karabakh leader’s arrest by 5 months The Binagadi District Court in Azerbaijan has granted the prosecutor’s petition to extend the arrest of Arkady Ghukasyan. Ucom General Director joins High-Tech Development Panel Discussion The discussion was titled "The Role of International Corporations and Investors as Catalysts for Development of High-Tech Ecosystem." U.S. still believes “peace is possible” between Armenia, Azerbaijan The United States continues to believe that peace is possible between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vedant Patel says. Dozens detained as antigovernment protest continue in Armenia At least 63 people demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation were detained on May 14 as they blocked streets in Yerevan. |