21 September 2001
Byliner: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Fighting Terrorism
(Calls for Global Front to Fight Terrorism) (730)
(This byliner was published on the op-ed page of the September 21,
2001, issue of the New York Times. Persons who intend to redistribute
this byliner should give credit to the New York Times as the source
and carry the following copyright on the title page: Copyright (c)
2001 The New York Times Company.)
Fighting Terrorism on a Global Front
By Kofi A. Annan
(The author is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.)
The terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11 aimed at one
nation but wounded an entire world. Rarely, if ever, has the world
been as united as it was on that terrible day. It was a unity born of
horror, of fear, of outrage and of profound sympathy with the American
people. This unity also reflected the fact that the World Trade
Center, in this uniquely international city, was home to men and women
of every faith from some 60 nations. This was an attack on all
humanity, and all humanity has a stake in defeating the forces behind
it.
As the United States decides what actions it will take in defense of
its citizens, and as the world comes to terms with the full
implications of this calamity, the unity of Sept. 11 will be invoked,
and it will be tested. I have expressed to President Bush and Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani -- and to New Yorkers at services in churches,
synagogues and mosques -- the complete solidarity of the United
Nations with Americans in their grief. In less than 48 hours, the
Security Council and the General Assembly joined me in condemning the
attacks and voted to support actions taken against those responsible
and states that aid them. Of this solidarity, let no one be in doubt.
Nor should anyone question the worldwide resolve to fight terrorism as
long as is needed. The most eloquent global answer so far to last
week's attacks has been the commitment of states from every faith and
region to act firmly against terrorism.
The international community is defined not only by what it is for, but
by what and whom it is against. The United Nations must have the
courage to recognize that just as there are common aims, there are
common enemies. To defeat them, all nations must join forces in an
effort encompassing every aspect of the open, free global system so
wickedly exploited by the perpetrators of last week's atrocities.
The United Nations is uniquely positioned to advance this effort. It
provides the forum necessary for building a universal coalition and
can ensure global legitimacy for the long-term response to terrorism.
United Nations conventions already provide a legal framework for many
of the steps that must be taken to eradicate terrorism -- including
the extradition and prosecution of offenders and the suppression of
money laundering. These conventions must be implemented in full.
Essential to the global response to terrorism is that it not fracture
the unity of Sept. 11. While the world must recognize that there are
enemies common to all societies, it must equally understand that they
are not, are never, defined by religion or national descent. No
people, no region and no religion should be targeted because of the
unspeakable acts of individuals. As Mayor Giuliani said, "That is
exactly what we are fighting here." To allow divisions between and
within societies to be exacerbated by these acts would be to do the
terrorists' work for them.
Terrorism threatens every society. As the world takes action against
it, we have all been reminded of the need to address the conditions
that permit the growth of such hatred and depravity. We must confront
violence, bigotry and hatred even more resolutely. The United Nations'
work must continue as we address the ills of conflict, ignorance,
poverty and disease.
Doing so will not remove every source of hatred or prevent every act
of violence. There are those who will hate and who will kill even if
every injustice is ended. But if the world can show that it will carry
on, that it will persevere in creating a stronger, more just, more
benevolent and more genuine international community across all lines
of religion and race, then terrorism will have failed.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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