09 October 2001
UN Security Council Is Still United in the Fight Against Terrorism
(U.S., UK brief Council on military attacks in Afghanistan) (650)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- The new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John
Negroponte, informed the UN Security Council October 8 that the United
States was beginning "the military phase of a multi-faceted and
comprehensive effort against international terrorism" with military
action against the al-Qaeda terrorist camps and Taliban military
installations in Afghanistan.
The U.S. Ambassador said that "in carrying out these missions we are
committed to minimizing civilian casualties and damage to civilian
property." He also stressed that the military attacks are "in no
way...a campaign directed against Islam or the Arab world."
Negroponte, and UK Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock, briefed the Council
on the U.S. offensive that had begun the day before, on Sunday,
October 7. The two envoys also sent letters to the President of the
Council, Ambassador Richard Ryan of Ireland, informing the Council
that the United States, together with other states, had initiated
actions in the exercise of its inherent right of individual and
collective self-defense as a result of the September 11 attacks in New
York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
Talking with journalists after the private Council meeting, Negroponte
said that the United States and others who are involved in the
military action "continue to enjoy strong understanding of the actions
we have taken and have, I think, a clear understanding that we are
acting in our inherent right of self-defense."
Negroponte told the Security Council that the U.S. remains committed
to bringing humanitarian relief to the Afghan people.
"We are dropping food and medical supplies inside Afghanistan. We have
also, as President Bush announced on the 4th of October, significantly
augmented the funds that we are donating to Afghan relief," the U.S.
Ambassador said.
Security Council President Ryan read a statement to the press
summarizing the Council's position.
That statement, Ryan said, shows that the unanimity of the Council
that characterized the two terrorism resolutions passed since the
September 11 attacks "is absolutely maintained."
"I might recall that the Security Council reacted to the attacks of 11
September first through resolution 1368 and then through resolution
1373 which took direct aim at the financing and support of
international terrorism. The members of the Council are determined to
see the full implementation of these resolutions," Ryan said.
He said that "the members of the Security Council took note of the
letters of the representatives of the United States and the United
Kingdom sent yesterday to the President of the Security Council in
accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter in which they state that
the action was taken in accordance with the inherent right of the
individual and collective self-defense following the terrorist attacks
in the United States."
"The Permanent Representatives made it clear that the military action
that commenced on 7 October was taken in self-defense and directed at
terrorists and those who harbor them," he said. "They stressed that
every effort was being made to avoid civilian casualties and that the
action was in no way a strike against the people of Afghanistan,
Islam, or the Muslim world."
"The members of the Council were appreciative of the presentations
made by the United States and the United Kingdom," said Ryan.
Ryan said the Council is deeply concerned at the humanitarian
situation in Afghanistan and "expressed appreciation for the
humanitarian assistance being offered by many countries."
At the beginning of October the Security Council had scheduled weekly
meetings on Afghanistan and that schedule remains, Ryan said. The
Council is also holding a further discussion of the humanitarian
situation in the country and the Afghan refugees October 9.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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