09 October 2001
Text: U.N. Secretary-General Affirms U.S. Right to Self-Defense
(Annan urges "a sustained effort" to defeat terrorism) (410)
Immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington, the United Nations Security Council "expressed its
determination to combat, by all means, threats to international peace
and security caused by terrorist acts," said U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan in a statement released October 8.
Commenting on the U.S. and British military response to those attacks,
Annan noted that the Council "also reaffirmed the inherent right of
individual or collective self-defense in accordance with the Charter
of the United Nations." Furthermore, "the states concerned have set
their current military action in Afghanistan in that context," he
added.
Following is the text of Annan's statement:
(begin text)
8 October 2001
'TO DEFEAT TERRORISM, WE NEED A SUSTAINED EFFORT AND BROAD STRATEGY
THAT UNITES ALL NATIONS,' SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL
Following is the text of a statement made today by Secretary-General
Kofi Annan on military strikes in Afghanistan:
Immediately after the 11 September attacks on the United States, the
Security Council expressed its determination to combat, by all means,
threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
The Council also reaffirmed the inherent right of individual or
collective self-defence in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations. The States concerned have set their current military action
in Afghanistan in that context.
To defeat terrorism, we need a sustained effort and a broad strategy
to unite all nations, and address all aspects of the scourge we face.
The cause must be pursued by all the States of the world, working
together and using many different means -- including political, legal,
diplomatic and financial means.
The people of Afghanistan, who cannot be held responsible for the acts
of the Taliban regime, are now in desperate need of aid. The United
Nations has long played a vital role in providing humanitarian
assistance to them, and it is my hope that we will be able to step up
our humanitarian work as soon as possible.
It is also vital that the international community now work harder than
ever to encourage a political settlement to the conflict in
Afghanistan. The United Nations is actively engaged in promoting the
creation of a fully representative, multi-ethnic and broad-based
Afghan Government.
(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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