By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN officially conveyed its concern to the US about reports that claimed Washington gathered intelligence on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.
"We have now officially expressed to the host country (the US) our concern regarding the recent reports that communications of the Secretary-General and other senior UN officials have been the subject of surveillance and interference by the US government," Dujarric told reporters.
"We have made it clear that such actions are inconsistent with the obligations of the United States as enumerated in the Charter of the United Nations and the convention and on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations," he said.
Dujarric said the displeasure was made verbally through the US mission.
The US conducted surveillance on Guterres’ conversations with other high-ranking UN officials and global leaders, according to leaked government documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Guterres reportedly voiced "outrage" for being refused entry to a conflict-ridden area in Ethiopia and his reported dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The documents constitute a collection of national security reports, reportedly disclosed on the Discord messaging platform by Massachusetts Air National Guard member, Jack Teixeira.
Teixeira, 21, was charged last week with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.