Security Council
SC/7143
4370th Meeting (PM) 12
September 2001
SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS, ‘IN STRONGEST
TERMS’,
TERRORIST ATTACKS ON UNITED STATES
Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1368 (2001),
Council Calls on All States to Bring Perpetrators
to Justice
The Security Council today, following
what it called yesterday’s "horrifying
terrorist attacks" in New York, Washington,
D.C., and Pennsylvania, unequivocally condemned
those acts, and expressed its deepest sympathy
and condolences to the victims and their families
and to the people and Government of the United
States.
Council members departed from tradition
and stood to unanimously adopt resolution
1368 (2001), by which they expressed the Council's
readiness to take all necessary steps to respond
to the attacks of 11 September and to combat
all forms of terrorism in accordance with
its Charter responsibilities.
In a related provision, the Council called
on all States to work together urgently to
bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers
and sponsors of those terrorist attacks and
stressed that those responsible for aiding,
supporting or harbouring them would be held
accountable.
Also by the text, the Council held that
any act of international terrorism was a threat
to international peace and security. It also
called on the international community to redouble
its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist
acts, including by increased cooperation and
full implementation of the relevant international
anti-terrorist conventions and Council resolutions.
Addressing the meeting, Secretary-General
Kofi Annan said that everyone felt “deep shock
and revulsion at the cold-blooded viciousness
of this attack”. He condemned it and those
who planned it ?- whoever they might be -?
in the strongest possible terms. He extended
his most profound sympathy to the victims
and their loved ones. A terrorist attack on
one country was an attack on all humanity,
he said.
One by one, Council members expressed shock
and grief at yesterday's attacks and offered
their deepest condolences and support for
the Government and people of the United States. Many
agreed that the whole world, and not just
one country, had been plunged into an unprecedented
time of peril, fear and uncertainty.
The Permanent Representative of the United
States to the United Nations thanked members
and world leaders for their support on that
dark day. Indeed, yesterday's event had been
an assault not just on the United States,
but on all who supported peace and democracy
and the values for which the United Nations
stood, he added.
"We will grieve and we will heal,"
he said. His country looked to all of those
who stood for peace and justice to stand with
it to win the war against terrorism. Echoing
the statement made by United States President
George W. Bush last night, he said that no
distinction would be made between those who
committed those acts and those who harboured
the criminals. The horrific images burned
into global memory would serve as a constant
reminder to all to stamp out that scourge.
All permanent members of the Security
Council spoke.
The meeting began at noon and was adjourned
at 12:42 p.m.
Resolution
The full text of Security Council resolution
1368 (2001) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Reaffirming the principles and purposes
of the Charter of the United Nations,
“Determined to combat by all means threats
to international peace and security caused
by terrorist acts,
“Recognizing the inherent right of individual
or collective self-defence in accordance with
the Charter,
“1. Unequivocally condemns in the
strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks
which took place on 11 September 2001 in New
York, Washington (D.C.) and Pennsylvania and
regards such acts, like any act of international
terrorism, as a threat to international peace
and security;
“2. Expresses its deepest sympathy
and condolences to the victims and their families
and to the People and Government of the United
States of America;
“3. Calls on all States to work together
urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators,
organizers and sponsors of these terrorist
attacks and stresses that those responsible
for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators,
organizers and sponsors of these acts will
be held accountable;
“4. Calls also on the international
community to redouble their efforts to prevent
and suppress terrorist acts including by increased
cooperation and full implementation of the
relevant international anti-terrorist conventions
and Security Council resolutions, in particular
resolution 1269 of 19 October 1999;
“5. Expresses its readiness to take
all necessary steps to respond to the terrorist
attacks of 11 September 2001, and to combat
all forms of terrorism, in accordance with
its responsibilities under the Charter of
the United Nations;
“6. Decides to remain seized of the
matter.”
Background
The Security Council met this afternoon
under extraordinary circumstances to consider
the total destruction yesterday of the World
Trade Centre in New York by two hijacked commercial
passenger jets, and subsequent attacks on
the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania
by other hijacked aircraft
Statements
The President of the Council, JEAN-DAVID
LEVITTE (France), extended feelings of sorrow,
deep solidarity and condolences to the United
States delegation on behalf of the members
of the Council
The Council then observed a moment of silence.
KOFI ANNAN, Secretary-General, said
the Council was meeting today in exceptionally
grave circumstances. The United States, the
host country, and New York, the host city,
had been subjected to a terrorist attack which
had horrified all. While the full extent of
the damage was not yet known, it seemed certain
that thousands had lost their lives and many
had suffered dreadful injuries. “All of us
feel deep shock and revulsion at the cold-blooded
viciousness of the attack”, he said. “All
of us condemn it, and those who planned it
?- whoever they may be -? in the strongest
possible terms.”
He extended most profound sympathy to the
victims, their loved ones and to the people
and Government of the United States. “More
than that”, he said, “we must express our
solidarity with the American Government and
people in this hour.” Terrorism was an international
scourge, which the United Nations had many
times condemned. A terrorist attack on one
country was an attack on humanity as a whole. All
nations of the world must work together to
identify the perpetrators and bring them to
justice, he urged.
Sir JEREMY GREENSTOCK (United Kingdom)
said yesterday’s events had “taken us all
to a place beyond imagining”. His country
was united in deep shock and sympathy with
the people of the United States and their
determination to wipe out terrorism globally. His
Queen, Elizabeth II, had expressed heartfelt
sympathy to the United States President, George
W. Bush, and admiration for those trying to
cope with the tragedy.
He said the European Union, in a meeting
this morning, said yesterday’s act was not
only against the United States, but against
humanity itself and the life and freedom shared
by all. He said his Prime Minister, Tony Blair,
had expressed similar sentiments and called
attention to the fact that terrorism was the
new evil of today. The United Kingdom supported
the substance of the resolution that the Council
was considering. Yesterday’s act was a global
issue, an attack on modern civilization and
an affront to the human spirit. “We must all
respond globally”, he said.
ANUND PRIYAY NEEWOOR (Mauritius) expressed
profound shock at yesterday’s events. He conveyed
his deepest sympathy and condolences to the
Government and people of the United States
and to the families of the victims. He unreservedly
condemned the inhuman and barbaric terrorist
acts, which had claimed the lives of thousands
of innocent victims. He was confident that
America would rise up to the challenge and
overcome those atrocities. It had previously
shown resilience to such tragic circumstances.
He said that targeting the United States
was also aimed at democracy and the free world. He
stood shoulder to shoulder with the American
people. Such cowardly acts had demonstrated
that no country was immune to terrorist attacks. Terrorism
knew no boundaries and was a major threat
to international peace and security. That
should be addressed comprehensively in the
framework of international cooperation. A
summit could be held on the subject.
MOCTAR OUANE (Mali) also extended his
deepest condolences with regard to yesterday’s
tragic events. He firmly condemned those barbarous
attacks, and hoped for the recovery of many
more victims. He was sorry for those who had
lost their lives. He would go along with any
decision of the Council in that regard.
VALERY P. KUCHINSKY (Ukraine) said that
yesterday’s events were a terrible catastrophe
and a terrible loss for America. He admired
the firefighters and policemen, indeed, the
whole American nation. His Foreign Minister,
in reaction yesterday, had expressed his deepest
indignation at the unprecedented outbreak
of terrorism. That crime had been primarily
directed against civilians, but was a direct
challenge to the entire civilized world. Whoever
was behind it had put themselves beyond the
laws of human civilization and deserved a
just and inevitable punishment.
The magnitude of the events was way beyond
terrorism as the world had so far known it,
he said. With the new technologies and changed
nature of the world, a handful of angry people
was enough to cause havoc. New definitions
and new strategies had to be evolved for those
new forms of terrorism. Yesterday’s date of
11 September could be an international day
to combat terrorism. A ministerial meeting
of the Council should be convened to discuss
its response to international terrorism.
KISHORE MAHBUBANI (Singapore) conveyed
deepest condolences to the victims, their
families, the people and Government of the
United States. Both his President and Prime
Minister had also conveyed their condolences
to President Bush. His delegation joined others
in condemning the acts of terrorism and had
consistently taken the position that terrorism
should not be condoned. Yesterday's events
demonstrated that the international community
must come together to address terrorism. Several
proposals had been tabled this morning, and
his delegation supported all of them. He now
hoped the Council would urgently address the
issue before it.
NOUREDDINE MEJDOUB (Tunisia) expressed
deep sympathy to the United States, which
had been an old friend of his country for
almost 200 years. His President had also expressed
his condolences and categorical condemnation
of yesterday's act. His delegation extended
compassion and solidarity to the United States'
delegation and the families left behind and
joined in sharing their grief. The tragedy
yesterday was an unacceptable and odious crime
against innocent people that no cause could
justify. The attack was an affront to humanity,
and he condemned the actors behind the tragedy. It
was time for the international community to
root out the madness and cooperate in preventing
and combating terrorism, as well as organized
crime.
RICHARD RYAN (Ireland) said the attack
yesterday was a barbaric and evil one that
had been committed against innocent people. It
was also an attack against all humanity. He
extended deep and heartfelt sympathies on
behalf of the Irish Government. The European
Union, in a special session today, had expressed
its horror at yesterday's attack. The people
of Europe and Ireland would have an observance
for yesterday's tragedy on Friday. The United
States should know that it was not alone in
its grief and revulsion and that decent people
from all parts of the world and from all religions
joined it. Respect for freedom and the right
to live in dignity were at the core of the
United Nations and those who committed the
acts yesterday had sought to destroy that. The
responsible parties were the enemies of all
people, peace and justice. They would not
be allowed to destroy the goals and visions
of the Organization.
WANG YINGFAN (China) expressed deep
shock and strong condemnation at yesterday’s
attacks. His Government had already expressed
that in messages to United States President
George W. Bush and United States Secretary
of State, Colin Powell, as well as its profound
sympathy to the people of the United States
and deep condolences to the victims.
He said that international terrorism seriously
endangered human society and the political
and economic order of countries. It also seriously
threatened international peace and security. His
country opposed all terrorist violence. Yesterday’s
attacks, which stunned the world, took place
in the United States, but represented an open
challenge to the international community as
a whole. He supported the United Nations in
its work to combat it and to bring to justice
its perpetrators. The Council should also
play a strong role.
SERGEY LAVROV (Russian Federation) said
that the United States had come up against
an unprecedented act of aggression from international
terrorism. He expressed his deepest condolences
to the people and victims, and to the Government. Yesterday’s
events were a brazen challenge to all of humankind
and, once again, emphasized the timeliness
of the task of combating terrorism ?- that
plague of the twenty-first century.
He said that the draft resolution today
showed the resolve of Council members to do
everything possible to ensure not one single
terrorist act went unpunished. The Russian
President yesterday had said that his country
knew terrorism very well and understood the
feelings of Americans. He expressed the solidarity
of his country with the United States.
M. PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) said that
the horrible acts of terrorism perpetrated
yesterday on American soil had plunged the
entire world into an unprecedented period
of peril, fear and uncertainty. She shared
the shock, grief and anger of the American
Government and its people who had suffered
untold casualties and enormous material damage. The
masterminds, and those in collusion with them,
must be brought to justice, and the global
community must demonstrate a solid front to
defeat terrorism.
She conveyed to the American Government
and to the people of that country -- in particular,
to those who had lost loved ones or were injured
-- her sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy. Jamaica’s
Prime Minister had already conveyed those
sentiments to President Bush. Today’s meeting
was an important opportunity for the Council
to reaffirm its condemnation of terrorism.
SHAMEEM AHSAN (Bangladesh) said his
country was still shocked by the very heavy
human toll and material losses that occurred
yesterday in the United States. His Government
had already strongly condemned the terrorist
act. Today, he wished to express condolences
to the people and Government of the United
States. Bangladesh also fully supported the
terms of the draft resolution to be adopted
OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) said many lives
had been lost yesterday, and his country was
prepared to extend all assistance. Yesterday's
attacks were not only directed against the
United States but at freedom and democracy
as well. "It was an attack against all
of us", he said. President Bush must
ensure that the perpetrators were pursued
and that they felt the full weight of the
law. The Council must also show its support
for that. Democracy would prevail over evil
-- countless people in New York, Washington
and Pennsylvania had proved themselves to
be truly heroic.
ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia) said the
attacks yesterday were not only against the
United States, but against the entire community
of civilized people and their values. Yesterday,
his country had rejected the cowardly attack.
Nothing could justify innocent victims paying
with their lives for the intolerance of fanatics. Additional
security was needed in New York and other
places. The Council also needed to respond
with greater commitment in its efforts to
reach the decision expected by the international
community. Terrorism could not be allowed
to prevail. He supported the adoption of immediate
measures by the Council, which was in keeping
with that body's mandate.
JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE (France), Council
President, called yesterday a "day of
horror", which would forever leave its
mark on the lives of all. The scourge of terrorism
on 11 September had destroyed thousands of
innocent American lives. Like all of the European
Union, whose Ministers had just forcefully
expressed themselves, France stood side by
side with the United States in that time of
trial. To all victims and families and to
all Americans, he expressed his condolences
and commitment of fraternal solidarity. In
the face of what constituted an attack upon
all mankind and against the values and principles
embodied in the United Nations Charter, it
was a time for unity and resolve.
He said that, all together, everyone must
say that nothing ever again in any place in
the world would justify resort to terrorism. All
together, the view must be taken that those
monstrous acts of yesterday were a challenge
to the international community as a whole. France
stood with the United States in deciding upon
any appropriate action to combat those who
resorted to terrorism and who aided or protected
the perpetrators. A global strategy was needed,
for which the Council should play a significant
role.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM (United States) thanked
the members for their kind words and support
and for their resolve and condolences to Americans
on that dark day. He had also appreciated
similar expressions from around the world. His
own thoughts and prayers were with the many
who had died or were injured and the many
brave fire and police personnel, who continued
to work feverishly in response to the attacks. Last
night, President Bush had eloquently addressed
the nation and the world on yesterday's outrage. It
had been an assault not just on the United
States, but on all who supported peace and
democracy and the values for which the United
Nations stood.
His country had suffered a cowardly and
evil attack, but would not be shaken in its
resolve. "We will grieve and we will
heal", he said. The United States looked
to all those who stood for peace and justice
to stand with it to win the war against terrorism. Indeed,
no distinction would be made between those
who committed those acts and those who harboured
the criminals. The horrific images burned
into global memory would serve as a constant
reminder to all to stamp out that scourge.