The United Nations Security Council today issued a document entitled "Locality and Personnel Security Practices". It is intended to be a blueprint for proper security procedures at all United Nations facilities worldwide. A standardized security practice has been high on the agenda of the Security Council since an attack on the UN facilities in Baghdad August 19.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan applauded the document saying "Having this basic instruction at all of our facilities will help each of our regional commanders to provide a basic safe working environment for our deployed personnel. Our security preparations in Baghdad were woefully inadequate to the situation and poor choices were made regarding personnel and facility protection. Having a standing order for minimum security may have prevented the horrible loss of life and compromise of our mission in Iraq."

In a brief press call US ambassador to the United Nations John Negroponte described the contents of the document. "It's very simple really. We consulted with military and civilian security experts and constructed a basic tier system. A building in an area of partisan activity has different basic security minimums than one in a peaceful region. Regional commands may increase security at their own discretion but may not implement less than the mandated levels. The lowest level of security for any facility was copied from that here at the United Nations headquarters. Ironically, if we had protected our personnel in Iraq as well as we ourselves are protected in New York City it is unlikely the August 19 attack would have succeeded."