19 September 2001
European, Eurasian Governments and Organizations Send Messages to U.S.
(Messages of condolence, solidarity with American people) (1230)
By Christine Johnson
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- Within hours of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, heads of state and
government throughout Europe and Eurasia, and organizations in the
region, began sending messages of condolence to U.S. leaders and the
American people.
In these messages and in other statements, they expressed shock and
outrage at the magnitude of the attacks, many describing them as a
crime against freedom and democracy.
Although the attacks took place on U.S. soil, it quickly became clear
that the destruction of the World Trade Center would affect scores of
countries whose nationals worked in offices, restaurants and shops in
the area or were visiting as tourists. Thus arose the feeling --
voiced by many -- that this horror had been visited upon civilization
itself.
Following is a brief sampling of messages from Europe and Eurasia:
Sweden:
"The terrorist attacks on the United States were attacks on us all, on
the greatest and most beautiful idea of our time: the equal value of
all and each person's inviolability, democracy itself has been
attacked. But democracy will survive this attack because we are many."
Croatia:
"The world will not be the same, nothing in the world will be the
same.... As of yesterday there is no longer neutrality, neither can
there be any.... I do not doubt that the vast majority of the world's
states will side with the antiterrorist alliance which simply must be
established."
Netherlands:
"The United States has been hit in the heart: Economically,
financially, politically, and militarily, but above all, humanly....
Now that the fundamental values, which we stand for mutually, have
been brutally trampled, their significance is even more visible and
palpable for us all."
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
"Words are not sufficient to describe this situation.... If the US
cannot protect from terrorism, then nobody is safe. Today's tragedy is
the strongest proof for the need of decisive combat against terrorism
until its elimination."
Ukraine:
"Ukraine decisively condemns terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and urges all acceptable actions in civilized society
to eliminate this inhuman way of attaining goals."
Germany:
"We all -- all Germans -- are filled with dismay at the terrorist
attacks in the United States. This is a declaration of war against the
entire civilized world. Those who help or harbor these terrorists
violate all the fundamental values on which international coexistence
is based."
Kyrgyzstan:
"It is imperative to strengthen international cooperation in combating
this global evil without frontiers and nationalities in order to
prevent the repetition of what has happened."
Turkey:
"The Turkish government is ready as ever to cooperate with you, and
the Turkish people stand by you at this difficult hour."
Russia:
"It is a brazen challenge to the whole humanity, at least to civilized
humanity.... We entirely and fully share and experience your pain. We
support you.... The whole international community must rally in the
fight against terrorism."
Italy:
"Italy is in mourning. These attacks against the United States hit and
offend the entire international community. They require a fight
without quarter against terrorism. We know that in this way we will
defend the values that are at the basis of civilization and community
living among peoples."
Czech Republic:
"It is a huge warning to civilization calling on us to mobilize our
responsibility for this world. Fanatics and madmen may not hold us
hostage."
Cyprus:
"The terrorist attacks were attacks not only against the United States
and its people but against the international legal order, democracy,
freedom and the most fundamental of all human rights, that of the
right to life."
Denmark:
"We are up against an inhuman type of fanaticism. The democratic
societies must now stand together and do everything we can to stop
this terrorism."
Kazakhstan:
"The United Nations ... has condemned these barbarous acts of
terrorism and has called on all mankind to take decisive action.
Therefore, Kazakhstan is ready to support the measures being taken by
the United States in the fight against terrorism with all the means at
the disposal of Kazakhstan."
Slovenia:
"Today's crime is a new and serious warning that the international
community didn't know and wasn't ready to react with adequate
effectiveness to the threat of increasing, organized and
internationally networked terrorism."
Greece:
"The people and the government of my country categorically condemn
terrorism. We express our solidarity to the American people in these
difficult moments and our determination to support world peace and
security."
Bulgaria:
"Those who are responsible are mean cowards and their inhuman and
brutal act should not remain unpunished."
France:
"It is with enormous emotion that France learned of the monstrous
attacks that have just struck the United States of America. In these
horrifying circumstances, the entire people of France stand by the
people of America."
Uzbekistan:
"The people of Uzbekistan are shocked and revolted to the depths of
our
souls by the inhuman terrorist actions that ended the lives of many
thousands of innocent people.... In these dramatic hours we are
reminded of the importance of unifying of our efforts to counteract
this terrible evil."
Slovakia:
"The evil of international terrorism proves to be one of the principal
challenges of the 21st century."
Lithuania:
"The world has never seen a tragedy of such proportions during the
time of peace. There is no doubt that this is a challenge to the whole
civilized and democratic world, to freedom, the world community, to
principles of coexistence and humanism.... No efforts should be spared
in order to prevent that happening again in any part of the world."
Albania:
"I express my deepest sorrow on the lives lost, victims of a harsh
terrorism, coming up again as a blind violence that has no limits and
no future."
United Kingdom:
"What happened in the United States on Tuesday was an act of
wickedness for which there can never be justification. Whatever the
cause, whatever the perversion of religious feeling, whatever the
political belief, to inflict such terror on the world; to take the
lives of so many innocent and defenseless men, women, and children,
can never ever be justified."
Romania:
"The human tragedy sorrowing the United States of America represents a
tragedy shared by the whole of the human kind and stands as further
proof for the fact that extremist actions can serve no cause
whatsoever."
North Atlantic Council:
"The mindless slaughter of so many innocent civilians is an
unacceptable act of violence without precedent in the modern era. It
underscores the urgency of intensifying the battle against terrorism,
a battle that the NATO countries -- indeed all civilized nations --
must win."
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe:
"These were acts not against the United States alone but against all
of humanity. Those responsible for sponsoring, organizing, harboring
and supporting in any way the execution of these criminal acts must be
brought to justice."
European Union:
"Our thoughts are with this friendly nation which has been hit so hard
by such terrible, barbaric violence. We would like to let the American
people know that we feel for them at this time of pain and suffering.
Today, we are all Americans."
Many other governments made statements of outrage and consolation, and
expressed their determination to help end international terrorism.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
