04 October 2001
Excerpts: U.N. Debate on Terrorism Draws Wide Participation
(Countries united in condemning terrorist acts of Sept. 11) (1760)
More than 150 countries are participating in the United Nations
General Assembly's October 1-5 debate on international terrorism, with
envoys issuing strong condemnations of the September 11 attacks
against the United States and urging global action to prevent such
events in the future.
The texts of delegation statements are available on the U.N. web site
at: http://www.un.org/terrorism/list011001.html
Following are excerpts from statements made during the first four days
of debate:
(begin excerpts)
Paul Heinbecker, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United
Nations:
"This debate is about honouring the memories of the dead in New York,
Washington, and Pennsylvania and the countless other innocent victims
of terrorism around the world. Fate does not play favourites, there is
no safe distance from terrorism and there is no diplomatic immunity
from evil. This time we have been the lucky ones. But that luck
carries with it a most solemn duty.
"And so on behalf of the Government and people of Canada, I express
Canada's resolve neither to forget nor to forgive the perpetrators of
these heinous acts, nor to rest until they are brought to justice. I
am here to pledge Canada's full participation in the struggle that
lies ahead.
"The right of Canada, and of the United States and of all U.N.
members, to self-defence is clear under international law, enshrined
in the United Nations' charter and recognized again most recently in
Security Council Resolutions 1368 and 1373. Canada has joined in the
invocation by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) of Article
V, the mutual defence article, of the North Atlantic Treaty. We are
prepared to participate fully in this effort."
Abdulmejid Hussein, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United
Nations:
"... my Delegation would like to reiterate two points. Firstly, the
urgent need for an agreement on a comprehensive convention in fighting
international terrorism. While it is important to have a precise legal
definition of terrorism, I agree with Mr. Kofi Annan when he says,
'There can be no acceptance of those who would seek to justify the
deliberate taking of innocent civilian life, regardless of cause or
grievance.' Surely, the peoples of the world whom we represent here
will not understand nor forgive us if we fail to quickly arrive at an
agreed comprehensive convention because some of us may descend to
being pedantic. I hope that will not happen. Secondly, it is important
and fitting that the Untied Nations should act as the focal forum for
combating international terrorism.
"However, it must not also be forgotten that if and when terrorists do
attack a country, such as happened on September 11, then that country
has the legitimate right to defend itself. Not only this, it has an
obligation to its people to seek out those who planned, funded,
encouraged and harbored the terrorist and hold them accountable."
Sergio Vento, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations:
"The horrors of September 11 show that terrorism constitutes a global
threat that requires an immediate global response. The existence of
geographic areas or legal loopholes that provide shelter or protection
to criminals and their interests creates zones of impunity and
represents a grave threat to international peace and security.
"This threat, as Security Council resolution 1368 so clearly
recognizes, is not against individual States or societies, but against
the whole set of values that hold the international community together
and lie at the foundation of the U.N. Therefore today's challenge is
to close these loopholes, to genuinely bar the road to terrorism,
suppress its means of support, and eliminate impunity. Last Friday's
resolution meets these demands...
"The resolution strengthens several commitments already included in
the U.N.'s 12 sectoral conventions against terrorism, making them
instantly binding for all Member States, in light of Chapter 7 of the
Charter. Nevertheless, it still leaves some gray zones that should be
eliminated if we wish to achieve a truly global anti-terrorism
strategy. The sectoral approach of the above-mentioned conventions
should thus, in our view, be integrated by a general legal instrument
that allows the repression of any terrorist act, wherever and by
whomever it is committed."
Alexandru Niculescu, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United
Nations:
"In full solidarity with the Government of the Unites States and the
American people, on 19 September, Romania's Parliament, taking note of
the Decision of the North Atlantic Committee to implement Article V of
the North Atlantic Treaty, has passed a resolution aimed at 'providing
the facilities of the national sea, land and air space in order to
support a possible response action against terrorism' and at
'coordinating Romania's actions with the United States of America and
NATO and with their partners and allies in order to put at their
disposal available forces and means in keeping with the proposed
actions.'
"We take part in this important debate with a deep sense of
responsibility and urgency.
"As the Secretary-General said yesterday, 'we are in a moral struggle
to fight an evil that is anathema to all faiths.' There must be no
political or religious justification for terrorist violence, and no
people or religion should be blamed for acts of mindless individuals.
Unity and not division of humanity is the right response to this
common enemy, which knows no national borders and can target any of
our societies."
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the
United Nations:
" ... Terrorism must be acknowledged for what it is: deliberate acts
of violence aimed at maiming, killing or devastating innocent
civilians without hesitation or mercy in the pursuit of the
terrorists' objectives.
"In the absence of a specific definition of terrorism, we stress once
again the need to differentiate between condemned terrorism and acts
of legitimate resistance and national struggle against foreign
occupation. International law and the U.N. Charter have guaranteed
this legitimate right for all people under foreign occupation and
alienate control. The absence of such a definition has seriously
undermined the mobilization of international efforts to tackle this
grave threat to human society. Such a comprehensive legal definition
of terrorism must make a clear distinction between terrorism and the
legitimate struggle of peoples, and should take into account all forms
of terrorism, including state terrorism or the threat of nuclear
weapons or weapons of mass destruction."
Ernest Petric, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United
Nations:
"It is of course very important to face, understand and eradicate
[the] long-term roots of terrorism. It is of course necessary to
understand political, economic, philosophical, ideological and even
religious roots of terrorism. But searching for root causes of
terrorism should by no means be a hindrance for our joint action and
our strict fulfillment of Security Council resolution 1373 now!
"After what has happened on September 11th, we also don't need to wait
to have [a] precise and comprehensive definition of terrorism. Crimes
such as [those] committed on that infamous day are just horrible,
heinous crimes against innocent people, against humanity, against all
religions, they are simply crimes against us all, no matter what
purposes might have led the perpetrators and those behind them."
Madina B. Jarbussynova, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the
United Nations:
"What happened in the United States was a crime against humanity, an
act of horrendous violence against all nations and creeds. We are
confident that the international efforts will help to find the authors
of these inhuman terrorist attacks and bring them to justice for their
crimes. It is essential that reconciliation should be not only
effective but also just. We welcome the intention of the Government of
the United States to produce evidence before any military strike.
"In this respect, we should not condemn the people of Afghanistan for
the terrorist attacks as we must not condemn Muslims and Arabs, the
vast majority of whom do not support the religious extremism. As
actions are taken against terrorists and their sponsors, we must make
sure that the lives of thousands of women and girls in Afghanistan,
who have suffered so terribly under the rule of Taliban, are saved and
their plight not be forgotten. Afghan women and girls should be at the
center of the rebirth of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. They must
finally gain their freedom and full rights and get the access to
education and health care."
Carlos dos Santos, Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the
United Nations:
"Terrorism knows no boundaries and no permanent or defined targets.
Not so long ago, some countries in our region went through tragedies
provoked by terrorist acts.
"The terrorist bombings of 1998 in Kenya and Tanzania are also clear
examples of the nature of terrorism and their total disregard for the
life of innocent and defenceless people regardless of their
geographical location, race, religious belief or political
orientation."
"These events and many other elsewhere in the world, including those
of September 11, have proven that only an international concerted
action can prevent such tragedies. All states must work together in a
coordinated manner to prevent the use of their territories by
terrorists, their financing, training, instigation and organization by
whomever, whatever the considerations of political, philosophical,
ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or of any other nature that may
be invoked to justify their acts."
Francisco Seixas Da Costa, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the
United Nations:
"The brutal terrorist attacks that killed thousands of innocent
people, citizens from many countries, including my own, shocked the
international community and created an unprecedented wave of
revulsion. The expression of common grief with the American people
took tones never seen before and the global political reaction could
not have been more resolute.
"The government of my country made clear, from the very first
instance, its firm position.
"We openly share the resolve of the United States to launch and
sustain an international campaign, through different means and using
diverse tools, to bring to justice those responsible for these
criminal acts and to engage the international community in a concerted
effort to avoid their repetition in the future.
"We have acted on several fronts, from NATO to the European Union,
from bilateral cooperation to the work of this General Assembly.
"We have acted without ambiguity, siding with those who have called
for concrete measures to punish the criminals and declaring that we do
not accept their impunity nor will we tolerate it."
(end excerpts)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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