12 October 2001
Text: EU Declares Full Solidarity with, Support for U.S.
(Oct. 8: Statement by EU's General Affairs Council) (440)
Following is the text of a statement issued October 8 in Luxembourg by
the European Union's General Affairs Council declaring "full
solidarity with the US and ... wholehearted support for the action
that is being taken in self-defense and in conformity with the UN
Charter and the UNSCR [United Nations Security Council Resolution]
1368":
(begin text)
European Union
Luxembourg
October 8, 2001
STATEMENT BY GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL
The EU declares its full solidarity with the US and its wholehearted
support for the action that is being taken in self-defence and in
conformity with the UN Charter and the UNSCR 1368. The terrorist
attacks of the 11th of September are an assault on our open,
democratic tolerant and multicultural societies and are regarded by
the UN Security Council as a threat to international peace and
security. The Heads of State and Government of the EU made clear on 21
September that a riposte to those barbaric acts would be legitimate.
Member States have confirmed that they stand ready to act each
according to their means. The EU remains in close consultation with
the United States.
All the information points clearly and convincingly to the
responsibility of Osama Ben Laden and the Al Qaida network for the 11
September attacks. A month later, and despite repeated pressure, the
Taliban regime has refused to take responsibility for handing over
those suspected so that they could be brought to justice. The Al Qaida
network and the regime which supports and harbours it are now facing
the consequences of their action.
The EU stresses that the carefully targeted action launched on 7
October is not an attack against Islam nor the people of Afghanistan,
whom the EU is determined to support and sustain. The EU and its
Member States are responding urgently to the humanitarian crisis in
and around Afghanistan and have already decided to make available 316
million EUROS. The Afghani people deserve a government which is truly
representative and which responds to their needs and aspirations. Such
a government will find a ready partner in the EU. The EU believes that
the role of the UN in this respect is essential.
The military action being taken is one part of a wider multilateral
strategy in which the European Union is committed to playing its part.
This involves a comprehensive assault on the organisations and
financing structures that underpin terrorism.
The EU will continue its close contacts with the countries of the
region and other partners.
[The associated countries of ..... align themselves to this
statement].
(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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