Strongly condemning the assassination Monday of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov in Ankara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations Security Council emphasized that there is no justification for targeting diplomatic personnel and civilians.

    "The Secretary-General is appalled by this senseless act of terror," according to a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson, which added that he also expressed his deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador Karlov and to the Government and people of the Russia.

    Ban emphasized that there can be no justification for the targeting of diplomatic personnel and civilians.

    In their press statement, the members of the Council also stressed the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic agents and consular officers and the obligations, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on diplomatic agents and consular officers.

Source: QNA