25 September 2001
Fact Sheet: International Organizations' Respond to Sept. 11 Attacks
(Resolutions, statements support U.S. action, condemn terrorism)
(1370)
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, several
international organizations have responded with resolutions and calls
to action. Following are brief descriptions of those measures:
September 12
The U.N. Security Council approves unanimously Resolution 1368,
condemning "in strongest terms" the terrorist attacks and calling on
all member states to bring the perpetrators to justice. The resolution
cites the right of individual or collective self-defense as well as
international anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council
resolutions, including Resolution 1269 (1999).
Text of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1368:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SC7143.doc.htm
The U.N. General Assembly adopts a Resolution (A/RES/56/1) on
Condemnation of Terrorist Acts in the United States of America. The
measure calls for "international cooperation to bring to justice the
perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the outrages of 11 September
2001" and "to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism." In particular,
the resolution "stresses that those responsible for aiding,
supporting, or harboring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of
such acts will be held accountable."
Text of the U.N. General Assembly resolution:
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/56/agresolution.htm
The North Atlantic Council, meeting in Brussels, issues a declaration
on the terrorist attacks in the United States, saying "if it is
determined that this attack was directed from abroad against the
United States, it shall be regarded as an action covered by Article 5
of the Washington Treaty, which states that an armed attack against
one or more of the Allies in Europe or North America shall be
considered an attack against them all." The council states that "the
United States' NATO Allies stand ready to provide the assistance that
may be required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism."
Text of the declaration by the North Atlantic Council:
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p01-124e.htm
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that key monetary
authorities around the world are working to ensure the "orderly
functioning of financial markets" following the terrorist attacks, and
that the Fund "stands ready to assist its member countries as
appropriate."
Text of the IMF statement:
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/2001/nb0188.htm
Heads of the central banks and finance ministries of the Group of
Seven (G-7) industrial countries pledge to ensure that financial
markets operate in an orderly fashion following the September 11
attacks. The G-7 leaders agree to provide liquidity and "stand ready
to take further action as necessary" to stabilize global markets.
Text of the statement by G-7 finance ministers:
http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/g7/finance/fm010912.htm
Meeting in a special session, the European Union adopts a declaration
saying, "The Union and its Member States will spare no efforts to help
identify, bring to justice and punish those responsible: There will be
no safe haven for terrorists and their sponsors." The EU pledges to
"work closely with the United States and all partners to combat
international terrorism."
Text of the European Union declaration:
http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom/LoadDoc.cfm?MAX=1&DOC=!!!&BID=71&DID=67756&GRP=3748&LANG=1
September 13
Taking action after the September 12 meeting of heads of G-7 central
banks, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve agree
on a swap arrangement allowing the ECB to draw up to $50,000 million
in U.S. dollar deposits held by the Federal Reserve in exchange for an
equivalent amount of euros.
Text of the ECB press release on the swap agreement:
http://www.ecb.int/
The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council releases a statement affirming
commitment "not to let those responsible for such an inhuman act to go
unpunished." NATO and Russia vow to intensify cooperation "to defeat
this scourge."
Text of the statement by the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council:
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p010913e.htm
The NATO-Ukraine Commission issues a similar statement of commitment
"to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and
punished." In addition, Ukraine pledges it is "ready to contribute
fully to this effort."
Text of the statement by the NATO-Ukraine Commission:
http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p01-126e.htm
September 14
The United States and Australia conclude that Article IV of their
mutual defense treaty (the ANZUS Treaty) applies to the terrorist
attacks in the United States. The Australian government states it will
be in "close consultation with the United States Administration in the
period ahead to consider what actions Australia might take in support
of the U.S. response to these attacks."
Text of an Australian government statement on ANZUS:
http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases2001/media_release1241.htm
Parliamentary leaders from all 19 NATO countries endorse the September
12 declaration by the North Atlantic Council and go further to declare
they would "fully support member governments in providing the United
States any and all the diplomatic, political, and, if required,
military means at their disposal in order to deal with the
perpetrators of this outrage."
Information on and text of the declaration by NATO Parliament:
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01091727.htm
The heads of state and government of the European Union members issue
a joint statement endorsing the September 12 EU declaration, as well
as calling on police and judiciary authorities of all countries to
intensify efforts to hunt the perpetrators of terrorism.
Text of the statement by the Council of the European Union:
http://ue.eu.int/Newsroom/LoadDoc.cfm?MAX=1&DOC=!!!&BID=102&DID=67761&GRP=3753&LANG=1
September 17
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) opens
its annual human rights conference with a pledge to make the fight
against terrorism a top priority. The Organization's
Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, asks the
55 OSCE member states to cut off "the venomous tentacles of
terrorism."
Text of the OSCE press release:
http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=1990
September 18
The U.N. Security Council holds a closed session on the political,
military, and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, after which it
reissues demands on the Taliban. In particular, the Council cites its
Resolution 1333, passed on December 19, 2000, which condemns the
Taliban for sheltering and training terrorists and planning terrorist
acts. It insists that the Taliban "turn over Usama bin Laden to
appropriate authorities in a country where he has been indicted ... or
to appropriate authorities in a country where he will be arrested and
effectively brought to justice." Information on the U.N. Security
Council's closed session:
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01091815.htm
Text of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1333:
http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2000/res1333e.pdf
September 19
The Organization of American States approves a resolution condemning
the September 11 acts of terrorism and a second resolution calling
upon OAS nations and other governments to use "all necessary and
available means to pursue, capture, and punish those responsible." The
OAS resolutions invoke the Rio Treaty (The 1947 Inter-American Treaty
of Reciprocal Assistance), which is based on Article 29 of the OAS
Charter and provides for a collective security mechanism. Under the
terms of the treaty, an armed attack on one member is to be considered
an attack on all.
Text of OAS Resolution CP/RES. 796 (1293/01):
http://www.oas.org/OASpage/crisis/cp_res796en.htm
Text of OAS Resolution CP/RES. 797 (1293/01):
http://www.oas.org/OASpage/crisis/cp_res797en.htm
September 20
The United States and the European Union vow to step up cooperation on
aviation and other transportation security, police and judicial
activities, financial sanctions, export controls, border controls, and
exchange of electronic data in order to combat terrorism.
Text of the joint U.S.-EU statement:
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01092017.htm
The heads of state of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations
call upon their foreign, finance, justice, and other relevant
ministers to develop specific measures to cooperate in
counter-terrorism efforts, urging all countries to ratify the 12
United Nations counter-terrorism conventions.
Information on and text of the statement by the heads of G-8
governments:
http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01092013.htm
September 21
The chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, calls
on all 55 OSCE participating states to work together to develop a plan
of action to fight terrorism. He cites areas of potential cooperation,
including border monitoring and policing, counter-terrorist training
and standardized legislation.
Text of the OSCE press release:
http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=2000
The Organization of American States holds a ministerial meeting to
endorse the September 19 OAS resolutions and enact further measures to
cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts. The ministers pledge "that the
States Parties shall render additional assistance and support to the
United States and to each other, as appropriate, to address the
September 11 attacks, and also to prevent future terrorist acts."
Text of the Resolution by OAS Foreign Ministers of the Americas
(RC.24/RES.1/01):
http://www.oas.org/ (See "Resolution: Terrorist Threat to the
Americas")
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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