11 October 2001
Transcript: U.S. Statement to OSCE Permanent Council on Afghanistan
(Thanks OSCE for support for anti-terrorism military strikes) (580)
The United States thanked the member countries of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe for their support for the
anti-terrorism campaign, including the military strikes against
terrorist training camps and military installations in Afghanistan.
U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE David Johnson pointed out in remarks to
the Permanent Council in Vienna October 11 that "we are joined in this
operation by the United Kingdom, and are supported by others including
Canada, Australia, Germany and France who have pledged forces as the
operation unfolds. Still others have helped by providing air transit
or landing rights."
Johnson also stressed that "the United States will not forget the
Afghan people. We are committed to honor our OSCE commitments, and
will seek to minimize civilian casualties and damage to civilian
property."
"The road ahead is a long one," he said.
Following is a transcript of the statement:
(begin transcript)
United States Mission to the OSCE
STATEMENT ON AFGHANISTAN
Delivered by Ambassador David T. Johnson
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
October 11, 2001
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
This past Sunday, after garnering conclusive evidence of the
responsibility and complicity of Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaida
network, and the Taliban regime in the September 11 attacks on New
York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, the United States, supported
by our allies, initiated military strikes against terrorist training
camps and military installations in Afghanistan. These actions marked
a new beginning in the fight against terrorism, to defend, preserve
and extend the freedom that the terrorists attempted to take from us
on September 11. America will continue to fight for the values for
which it stands, for freedom, peace, religious tolerance, and
democracy.
On behalf of the United States, I would like to thank our colleagues
around the table for their support and take note that we are joined in
this operation by the United Kingdom, and are supported by others
including Canada, Australia, Germany and France who have pledged
forces as the operation unfolds. Still others have helped by providing
air transit or landing rights. The actions taken by the United States,
with the assistance of others will, as President Bush said, "defend
not only our precious freedoms, but also the freedom of people
everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear."
We are and will continue to exercise our right of individual and
collective self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United
Nations Charter.
Likewise, the United States will not forget the Afghan people. We are
committed to honor our OSCE commitments, and will seek to minimize
civilian casualties and damage to civilian property. We are also
committed to the protection of the human rights of the Afghan people.
We have already provided them with food, medicine and humanitarian
supplies and will continue to do so.
The road ahead is a long one. The military actions that have been
taken are only the beginning, and are a part of other military and
non-military efforts to end the attempts of terrorists to sow fear and
strike at our freedoms, and to bring them to justice.
You may be sure that for any use of terror against the American
people, our forces, or those of our friends and allies, we will hold
responsible not only Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaida, but also all who
may have provided assistance.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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