20 September 2001
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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