The UN today deplored the decision of the council in New York to suspend their school visits to the symbolic seat of the organization on the grounds that the complex still has the fire necessary measures to ensure the safety of its visitors.
The spokesman for the UN, Michele Montás said that the organization considers its headquarters, located on First Avenue in Manhattan, a place is "absolutely safe" for the nearly 500,000 people who visit annually, including 50,000 students in that "many are the New York area."
"It's a shame that children in public schools in New York remain without visiting one of the biggest attractions of the city and not learn about his contribution to peace," said the spokesman.
Montás said that those responsible for the safety of United Nations are convinced that the building does not pose a danger to visitors, diplomats and UN staff.
He recalled that the institution has invested three million dollars to install new smoke detectors and fire doors and dropped the route of the guided tours to avoid areas considered most problematic.
The council announced on Monday a letter to the organization's decision to suspend the visits made to local public schools compound of the UN.
The charge of relations council in New York with the UN, Marjorie Tiv, recrimina to UN in that letter that there is no choice but to put all fire code violations found two years ago during an inspection of the building.
"Despite the fact that many of the identified 866 violations have been corrected, the City remains concerned about the fact that some of the most important reforms have been delayed or have been postponed indefinitely," he said.
The UN this year put in place an ambitious plan to renovate its headquarters to five years' time and at a cost of over 1,800 million dollars.
