20 September 2001
Byliner: U.S. Ambassador to Japan on Security Alliance, Terrorism
("Terrorism is a common threat to humanity," Baker writes) (720)
(This byliner was published in the September 19, 2001 issue of the
Daily Yomiuri in Japan. Persons who intend to redistribute this
byliner should give credit to the Daily Yomiuri as the source. No
republication restrictions.)
(begin text)
Friendship for the Next 50 Years
By Ambassador Howard Baker
(The author is the U.S. ambassador to Japan.)
In San Francisco earlier this month I had the honor of participating
in the commemoration celebrating 50 years of friendship and alliance
between our two great nations. What Japan and the United States have
done together in moving so rapidly and so comprehensively from bitter
enmity to close, warm, and productive friendship stands unparalleled
as a living monument to peace. Our alliance, deeply grounded in the
countless individual friendships between Americans and Japanese, forms
a foundation of stability on which our nations and many others thrive
in peace and security. What became immediately clear to me when I
arrived in Japan is that what really makes our partnership work is not
abstract calculations of national interest, but something far more
basic: we genuinely like each other. It is as simple as that. We are
true friends.
As friends, we share a common sadness now, and together we mourn the
losses of thousands of precious lives cut short by murderous acts of
terrorism. I feel deep sorrow for the Japanese people who lost their
lives in last week's attacks, and my heart goes out to their families
and friends. The horrific fire of exploding airplanes has revealed our
vulnerabilities, but has even more clearly illuminated the unbreakable
human spirit. As President Bush said, "Terrorist attacks can shake the
foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the
foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot
dent the steel of American resolve." The outpouring of sympathy and
solidarity from around the world has touched America deeply.
Here in Japan, as soon as news of the tragedy emerged, people from
throughout the country came to our embassy and to our consulates. They
brought flowers, they brought messages of grief and condolence. We
gathered up the flowers piled in front of the embassy's entrance, but
more and more arrived. We set up a book of condolence, and thousands
of individuals, moved by a common spirit, have come to share their
sentiments. Young families with their children lined up to wait for a
turn. Prime Minister Koizumi and other senior representatives of the
Japanese Government came to give condolence and support. People have
left offerings of food and toys, thinking of the children whose
families have been shattered. Some constructed an origami of 10,000
cranes each bearing the message "peace." Through our tears, we will
never forget this spontaneous demonstration of friendship and support
from our friends in Japan. On behalf of the American people, I thank
you.
Prime Minister Koizumi and the Government of Japan have been eager to
help, and the United States deeply appreciates this resolute response.
We must anticipate an extended, comprehensive struggle against the
cruelty of terrorism. There will be many dimensions to this challenge,
and the United States looks forward to hearing Japan's ideas for how
to proceed, and to working together to shield ourselves against a
common threat. We must prevent the recurrence of such attacks and we
must bring the perpetrators to justice.
Terrorism is a common threat to humanity. The United States and Japan
-- the two most productive economies in the world, partners in an
alliance which undergirds the stability of an entire region, close
friends -- will continue to ensure the conditions for ongoing peace
and prosperity not only for our own citizens, but for people
throughout the world. To our ongoing efforts to combat diseases,
promote peace and economic development, advance knowledge, we must add
the challenge of stepping up our defenses against terrorism. The
resilience and character that our two nations demonstrated in
embracing friendship in the aftermath of war will serve us well in
facing all of our future challenges, and I am confident that together
we will prevail.
(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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