Western Hemisphere Leaders Condemn Terrorist Attacks in United States
(Official statements express support and send condolences) (720) By Vanessa Clarke Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, governments of various countries in Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean are giving their full support to the United States. President Vicente Fox of Mexico offered his country's condolences and said that Mexico has suspended its Independence Day holiday celebrations as an expression of sympathy. "Mexico expresses its condolences to the government and the American people for the irreparable human losses," said Fox. "We also express our energetic condemnation [of] these attacks ... and we hope that peace reigns in the world." Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso also extended his condolences and said that the attacks "demonstrate the folly of violence." "We will continue to support the joint cooperative efforts of the international community to eradicate such unacceptable practices that are utterly inconsistent with the building of an international order based on the principles of justice," he said. "We vehemently repudiate terrorism." President Fernando De La Rua of Argentina expressed his country's sympathy and support for the United States in its time of need. "I pray for the victims and ask God to give strength to the families and [ensure] the speedy recovery of those affected by these events which have deeply moved the world," said De La Rua. "The Argentine government has strongly condemned the acts of aggression that took place [Tuesday], and that have caused the loss of numerous lives and countless wounded." Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien spoke directly to President Bush and expressed sadness and concern on behalf of his country. "I reiterated directly to him the sincerest condolences of the Canadian people for the horrific attacks yesterday on innocent Americans and our offer of any security or humanitarian assistance that the United States may need," said Chretien. The government of Colombia communicated its shock over the attacks and called them "cowardly and despicable." "There is no justification whatsoever for the death of hundreds of innocents at the hand[s] of a few intolerant radicals," the Colombian government said in a statement. "With all our support and solidarity, we accompany President George W. Bush and all the American nation in these moments of grief and uncertainty. We [affirm] our confidence that the United States will soon overcome this tragic moment for the well-being of its citizens and of all nations that work for a peaceful world." Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Basedo Panday sent his country's condolences on Tuesday's tragedy and said it was "a slap in the face of those who seek peace." "I imagine the day -- United Nation's Day of Peace -- was deliberately chosen by the terrorists," said Panday. "Trinidad and Tobago has, at both national and international forums, condemned terrorism." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed "profound grief" over the "cowardly, murderous" terrorist attacks on the United States and offered help in the form of oil supplies, rescue teams and blood products. As one of the leading providers of gasoline to the United States, Venezuela will do everything possible to ensure that fuel supplies in the world's largest economy remain normal, Chavez declared. "Our deepest condolences go to the people of the United States and the U.S. government and especially to the families of the thousands of victims of these abominable acts," he said during a live national address in which he observed a moment of silence. In addition, Chavez added his voice to calls for an international pact to fight terrorism in the aftermath of the bloody assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The Organization of American States (OAS) Special General Assembly, which convened in Lima, Peru, on September 11, issued an official statement saying that it "condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist acts visited upon the cities of New York and Washington, D.C., today, and reiterates the need to strengthen hemispheric cooperation to combat this scourge that has thrown the world and the hemispheric community into mourning." "The General Assembly expresses its full solidarity with the government of President George W. Bush and with the people of the United States of America," the OAS statement said. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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