Text: G-8 Condemns Terrorist Attacks on the United States
(Group preparing measures to counter terrorism) (490) The Group of Eight (G-8) major industrialized nations September 20 condemned the recent terrorist attacks on the United States, saying the terrorists' actions "constitute a profound threat to the peace, prosperity, and security of all people, of all faiths, of every nation." The G-8 heads of states, in a statement released by the Italian government, said they were calling upon their foreign, finance, justice, and other relevant ministers to develop specific measures to enhance counterterrorism cooperation. The G-8 countries include Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. Following is the text of the G-8 statement: (begin text) G-8 Heads of Government Statement We, the leaders of the G-8, condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric acts of terrorism carried out against the United States of America on September 11. Our condolences do not end at America's borders, for New York and Washington are international cities where many nationalities have made a home. The perpetrators, and all who have harbored, assisted or supported them by any means, have launched an offensive against innocent persons and against the central values and interests of the international community. Their actions constitute a profound threat to the peace, prosperity, and security of all people, of all faiths, of every nation. We will not allow those who seek to perpetrate hatred and terror to divide the peoples and cultures of the world. The U.N. Charter clearly commits all its members to take effective measures to maintain international peace and security. The 12 United Nations counter terrorism conventions, many of which trace their origins back to the G-8 process, set the standard for international action in the fight against terrorism. In response to the brutal events of September 11, we urge all countries to take steps to ratify these instruments as soon as possible, and to implement the terms of these conventions immediately, even prior to ratification. We have asked our foreign, finance, justice, and other relevant ministers, as appropriate, to draw up a list of specific measures to enhance our counter terrorism cooperation, including: expanded use of financial measures and sanctions to stop the flow of funds to terrorists, aviation security, the control of arms exports, security and other services cooperation, the denial of all means of support to terrorism and the identification and removal of terrorist threats. By identifying and implementing specific measures, we underscore our determination to bring to justice the perpetrators of this outrage, to combat all forms of terrorism, to prevent further attacks, and to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against this global scourge. We welcome all others who stand ready to join us in these efforts, and we stand ready to help them. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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