12 September 2001
Western Hemisphere Leaders Condemn Terrorist Attacks in United States
(Regional governments express support and send condolences) (470)
By Vanessa Clarke
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks
against the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, the
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 sent 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 President Fox. "We also
express our energetic condemnation [of] these attacks ... and we hope
that peace reigns in the world."
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 over the tragedy and said it was "a slap in the
face of those who seek peace."
"I imagine the day -- United Nations' Day of Peace -- was deliberately
chosen by the terrorists," said Minister Panday. "Trinidad and Tobago
has, at both national and international forums, condemned terrorism."
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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