19 September 2001
Text: U.S. Envoy Addresses OAS Meeting on Terrorism
(OAS invokes Rio Treaty for common defense) (790)
The U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS),
Roger Noriega, is thanking the democracies of the Americas for their
support following the September 11 terrorist attacks against U.S.
targets, and urging a coordinated regional response to terrorism.
He spoke September 19 to a special session of the OAS Permanent
Council, convened to discuss the attacks against Washington and New
York that have left nearly 6,000 people dead.
Noriega said the attacks were directed "not just at the United States
but at the core values all our societies hold dear: democracy,
freedom, toleration, and respect for others."
Later in the session, the OAS invoked a mutual defense pact known as
the Rio Treaty in support of the United States, and declared that the
attacks in New York and Washington were a threat to the security of
the entire hemisphere.
"By invoking the Rio Treaty we recognize and send a strong message to
the terrorists that in our democratic hemisphere, an attack against
one is an attack against all," Noriega said.
The OAS Council also agreed to convene a meeting of the hemisphere's
foreign ministers, for September 21 to discuss security matters,
including possible measures of common defense.
Following is the text of Noriega's statement, as prepared for
delivery:
(begin text)
Statement by Ambassador Roger Noriega
OAS Permanent Council
September 19, 2001
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me begin by thanking the governments and
peoples of the Americas for their countless messages of solidarity and
support in the wake of the terrible events of September 11. Only hours
after the first of these heinous, cowardly attacks, the Foreign
Ministers of the Hemisphere, meeting in Lima, called for greater
cooperation to combat the scourge of terrorism.
I also wish to express my condolences to the distinguished ambassadors
represented around this table for the hundreds of their fellow
citizens who perished on that day. The "World Trade Center" as its
name implies -- indeed brought together the people of many nations.
The criminals who snuffed out their lives understand this. Their
attack was directed not just at the United States but at the core
values all our societies hold dear: democracy, freedom, toleration,
and respect for others.
It is, therefore, entirely appropriate that the Permanent Council of
the Organization of American States meets today -- and our foreign
ministers meet on Friday -- to adopt measures to defend our freedom
and security from the threat of terrorism. We strongly support the
adoption of the two resolutions presented to the Permanent Council
today, as well as the convocation of meetings of foreign ministers
under the OAS Charter and the Rio Treaty to mandate that governments
commit to additional specific measures. By invoking the Rio Treaty in
particular, we recognize -- and send a strong message to the
terrorists -- that in our democratic Hemisphere, an attack against one
is an attack against all. We also recognize our inescapable obligation
and immutable political will to contribute to the common defense
against threats to peace and security of the Americas.
For its part, the United States will use every tool, every weapon, to
pursue and punish those responsible for the despicable acts of
September 11 and those who shelter and support them. The energy of our
nation and our people is focused on that task.
But the challenge is not ours alone. As President Bush stated on the
day of the tragic attacks: "America and our friends and allies join
with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand
together to win the war against terrorism."
Today, the nations of the Americas stand ready to meet that challenge.
There are many useful tools for doing this -- embodied both in the OAS
Chatter and in the Rio Treaty. Over the next few days, all of these
resources will be invoked, through diplomacy, law enforcement,
international cooperation, long-term institution-building and all
other means necessary to pursue and punish the perpetrators of these
acts and to fortify ourselves against the scourge of terrorism.
In recent months, leading to a triumphant meeting in Lima, we stood
shoulder-to-shoulder in crafting a bold charter proclaiming democracy
as a right of our people and a cornerstone of our societies. In that
spirit of solidarity and resolve, we will move decisively against the
forces of terrorism, that despise democracy and the fundamental values
our people cherish.
We thank the democracies of the Americas for sanding together with us
today.
(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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