Fifty-sixth General Assembly GA/9903
Plenary 12 September 2001
1st Meeting (PM)
OPENING ITS FIFTY-SIXTH SESSION, GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS
HEINOUS ACTS OF TERRORISM PERPETRATED IN HOST CITY AND WASHINGTON
During the first plenary meeting of its fifty-sixth session
this afternoon, the General Assembly strongly condemned the heinous
acts of terrorism which had caused enormous loss of human life,
destruction and damage in New York, host city of the United Nations,
in Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania. It issued that condemnation
in a draft resolution, adopted without a vote, of “Condemnation
of Terrorist Attacks in the United States”. The Assembly also
expressed condolences and solidarity with the people and Government
of the United States, and renewed its call for urgent action to
enhance international cooperation to prevent and eradicate acts
of terrorism.
Before that action, under its newly elected President, Han
Seung-soo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic
of Korea, the Assembly decided to postpone its special session
for follow-up to the World Summit for Children, to a date to be
determined during the fifty-sixth session. The session on children
was scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 September. The Assembly
also postponed the two-day high-level dialogue on strengthening
international economic cooperation for development through partnership,
announced for 17 and 18 September, to 20 and 21 September 2001.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the Organization’s
host country, and its wonderful host city, had just been subjected
to a terrorist attack of a kind one hardly dared imagine “even
in our worst nightmares”. The Assembly struggled, he said, to
voice the intense admiration and respect it felt for the valiant
police officers, firefighters and workers of all kinds who were
engaged in the rescue and recovery effort.
The Assembly, he continued, had condemned terrorism on numerous
occasions and had called on all States to adopt measures to prevent
terrorism and strengthen international cooperation against it. “We
must now go further”, he said. “All nations of the world must
be united in their solidarity with the victims of terrorism, and
in their determination to take action -? both against the terrorists
themselves and against all those who give them any kind of shelter,
assistance or encouragement.”
General Assembly President Han Seung-soo said mere words could
not express the outrage and disgust all felt at the heinous acts
of terrorism perpetrated yesterday against the Organization’s
host country. He went on to say that this year’s presidency would
continue ongoing initiatives to improve the Assembly’s working
methods. It would also move forward the discussions on Security
Council reform. In addition, the Assembly would emphasize the
strengthening of the Organization’s capacity to maintain peace
and security.
Dealing with terrorism was a priority, he said, as were promotion
of democracy and strengthening the rule of law, protecting the
vulnerable and ensuring that the benefits of globalization devolved
to all, especially through steps to bridge the digital divide
with information technologies. Finally, his presidency would emphasize
the consideration of ways to bring Africa into the mainstream,
through poverty eradication and the generation of sustainable
development.
The representatives of South Africa, on behalf of the African
Group, Viet Nam, on behalf of the Asian Group, Czech Republic,
on behalf of the Eastern European Group, Guyana, on behalf of
the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and Greece, on behalf
of the Group of Western European and Other States, all congratulated
the President on his election. They expressed their condolences
to the people and Government of the United States and the families
of the bereaved. They strongly condemned yesterday’s “cruel and
barbaric acts” perpetrated against the host country.
The representative of the United States, thanking speakers
for their condolences and support, said the Assembly’s decision
demonstrated that “we are united and strong in the face of terror. We
have resisted the fear that terrorists have attempted to instil
in the hearts of the people of the United States and the peoples
of the United Nations.”
After the attack, he said, sides had to be chosen between the
values of human rights and democracy, or terrorism and the law
of the jungle. There were those who opposed terrorism and those
who used it. He included in the second category those who harboured
terrorists, provided them safe haven or turned a blind eye to
their activities. The attack on the United States was also an
attack on the values on which the United Nations was founded,
he said, urging united action to defend those values against terrorism.
Azerbaijan’s representative proposed that the United Nations
medical service organize a blood drive to contribute to the rescue
efforts in the host city. The proposal was adopted by acclamation.
The Assembly also appointed the nine members of its Credentials
Committee: China, Denmark, Jamaica, Lesotho, Russian Federation,
Senegal, Singapore, United States and Uruguay.
Today’s meeting, which was planned for yesterday, 11 September,
had been postponed because of the situation in the host country. At
its opening, the International Day of Peace was observed, as well
as a minute of silent prayer or meditation to commemorate the
event.
The Assembly was informed that Burundi, Central African
Republic, Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia,
Niger, Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles,
Somalia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were in arrears in the payment
of their financial contributions to the United Nations within
the terms of Article 19 of the Charter. [Article 19 stipulates
that a Member which is in arrears shall have no vote in the Assembly
if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the
contributions due from it for the preceding two full years.]
The Assembly will meet again at 3 p.m. tomorrow to elect
its Vice-Presidents.
Background
The fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly met this
afternoon for its first two plenary meetings. It was expected
to elect its President for the session, to appoint members of
its Credentials Committee and to elect its 21 Vice-Presidents. After
the first plenary session, the Main Committees planned to meet
consecutively to elect their Chairmen. In the second plenary meeting,
the Assembly was expected to elect its Vice-Presidents, six from
the Group of African States, four from the Group of Asian States,
one from the Group of Eastern European States, three from the
Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, two from the Group
of Western European and Other States, plus the five permanent
members of the Security Council.
[The General Assembly is the main United Nations deliberative
organ. It is composed of Member States, each of which has one
vote. Decisions on important questions, such as peace and security,
admission of new Members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds
majority. Decisions on other questions are adopted by a simple
majority. The Assembly’s regular session usually begins each September. This
year, it was supposed to start yesterday, 11 September, but was
postponed because of the situation in the host country.
The Assembly’s Main Committees are: Disarmament and International
Security (First Committee); Economic and Financial (Second Committee);
Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third Committee); Special Political
and Decolonization (Fourth Committee); Administrative and Budgetary
(Fifth Committee); and Legal (Sixth Committee).]
The Assembly had before it a draft resolution submitted by
the President, on Condemnation of Terrorist Attacks in the United
States (document A/56/L.1). By its terms, the Assembly strongly
condemns the heinous acts of terrorism which have caused enormous
loss of human life and destruction in the cities of New York,
host city of the United Nations, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. The
Assembly also expresses condolences and solidarity with the people
and Government of the United States in the present sad and tragic
circumstances.
By further terms of the draft, the Assembly urgently calls
for international cooperation to bring to justice the perpetrators,
organizers, and sponsors of yesterday’s outrages. It also renews
its call for urgent action to enhance international cooperation
to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism.
Also before the Assembly was a draft decision, submitted by
the President, to postpone the Assembly’s special session for
follow-up to the World Summit for Children, originally scheduled
to meet from 19 to 21 September. The new date for the Summit would
be decided during the fifty-sixth session of the Assembly.
Opening of Fifty-Sixth Session
Opening the fifty-sixth regular session of the General Assembly,
HARRI HOLKERI (Finland), President of the fifty-fifth regular
session, expressed the Assembly’s deepest condolences to the people
and Government of the United States on yesterday’s attacks. What
happened yesterday exceeded everybody’s imagination and violated
the principles the United Nations stood for. The United Nations
must now stand together to stamp out the scourge of terrorism. Yesterday’s
tragedy was bringing together citizens of the city. It should
also bring together the Members of the United Nations, so that
what happened yesterday could never happen again.
The General Assembly then appointed the nine members of
its Credentials Committee: China, Denmark, Jamaica, Lesotho, Russian
Federation, Senegal, Singapore, United States and Uruguay.
The Assembly then elected, by acclamation, Han Seung-soo,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea,
President of the fifty-sixth regular session.
Mr. Holkeri then handed over the presidency to Mr. Han Seung-soo.
Statements
HAN SEUNG-SOO (Republic of Korea), the newly elected President
of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, said mere
words could not express the outrage and disgust all undoubtedly
felt at the heinous acts of terrorism perpetrated yesterday against
the Organization’s host country. Recalling his country’s unique
relationship with the United Nations, from 1948 through the post-Korean
War recovery period and later economic development, he said his
country’s presidency of the Assembly during its tenth anniversary
as a United Nations Member represented a recognition by fellow
Member States of his country’s contribution.
Also recalling that the United Nations had been born amid
hopes for a lasting peace in the wake of two devastating world
wars, he noted that the United Nations founding fathers had set
forth lofty goals in the Charter. He reviewed the tide of global
events in the interim and emphasized the importance of last year’s
Millennium Summit and its Declaration. He said the resolve of
leaders to strengthen the United Nations had been an important
element of the Declaration, which had reaffirmed the Assembly
as the Organization’s chief deliberative, policy-making and representative
organ. This year’s presidency would continue ongoing initiatives
to improve the Assembly’s working methods. It would also move
forward the discussions on Security Council reform.
In addition, he said the Assembly under his presidency would
emphasize the strengthening of the Organization’s capacity to
maintain peace and security. Dealing with terrorism was another
priority, as was promotion of democracy and strengthening the
rule of law, protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that the benefits
of globalization devolved to all, especially through steps to
bridge the digital divide with information technologies. Finally,
his presidency would emphasize the consideration of ways to bring
Africa into the mainstream through poverty eradication and the
generation of sustainable development.
In summary, he said that was a good point in history to
refer back to the original spirit and principles of the United
Nations. Calling on the fifty-sixth session to place the transcendent
vision enshrined in the Charter above all else, he called for
respecting the sovereign rights and legitimate national interests
of all nations while seeking harmony through diversity, peace
through dialogue and mutual prosperity through cooperation.
KOFI ANNAN, Secretary-General, said the Organization’s host
country, and its wonderful host city, had just been subjected
to a terrorist attack of a kind one hardly dared imagine “even
in our worst nightmares”. The Assembly was struggling, he said,
to voice the intense admiration and respect it felt for the valiant
police officers, firefighters and workers of all kinds who were
engaged in the rescue and recovery effort.
The Assembly, he said, had condemned terrorism on numerous
occasions. It had said repeatedly that terrorist acts were never
justified, no matter what considerations might be invoked. The
Assembly had called on all States to adopt measures to prevent
terrorism and strengthen international cooperation against it.
“We must now go further”, he said. Earlier today, the Security
Council had expressed its readiness to take all necessary steps
to respond to yesterday’s attacks, and to combat all forms of
terrorism in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter.
He said he trusted the Council would indeed take such steps,
and that the Assembly would follow suit. “All nations of the world
must be united in their solidarity with the victims of terrorism,
and in their determination to take action -? both against the
terrorist themselves and against all those who give them any kind
of shelter, assistance or encouragement”, he said. He trusted
that that message would go out loud and clear to the whole world
from every member of the Assembly.
Action
The Assembly then adopted, without a vote, a draft resolution
on Condemnation of Terrorist Attacks in the United States of America,
as contained in document A/56/L.1.
DUMISANI KUMALO (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the African
Group, first congratulated the new President of the Assembly on
his election. He then described the tragedy that had befallen
the people of the United States as “senseless, horrific and totally
beyond belief
On behalf of the African Group, he offered heartfelt condolences.
Expressing the hope that the perpetrators of those cowardly acts
would soon face the full might of the law, he said the tragedies
had brought home the unrelenting threat that international terrorism
posed to all States. “Today it is the people of the United States
who are in tears. In truth, it is the whole world that is weeping.
The challenge that the United Nations confronts is to intensify
our collective efforts to live up to the preamble of the United
Nations Charter, which calls upon us to ‘practice tolerance and
live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security’.”
NGUYEN THANH CHAU (Viet Nam), speaking on behalf of the Asian
Group, congratulated the President on his election. He then said
the countries of the Asian Group were profoundly shocked at the
acts of barbarism in the United States in which thousands were
killed or wounded. Yesterday’s attack constituted a naked insult
to the conscience of humankind. He expressed deepest condolences
and said the Asian Group fully supported the Assembly resolution
condemning the terrorist attacks.
VLADIMIR GALUSKA (Czech Republic), speaking on behalf of the
Group of Eastern European States, said the Assembly was opening
its new session under the shadow of what had happened yesterday
in New York. The Group unanimously condemned the attacks, which
were not only against the United States but the whole civilized
world. The Group was united in its determination to prevent similar
terrorist occurrences through increased international cooperation
and through resolutions of the Security Council and the Assembly. The
Eastern European States unanimously supported the resolution before
the Assembly. He congratulated the President on his election and
thanked Mr. Holkeri for his work during the last session.
ODEEN ISHMAEL (Guyana), speaking on behalf of the Latin
American and Caribbean Group, congratulated the President on his
election and conveyed the Group’s appreciation to former Assembly
President Harri Holkeri.
He said the Group welcomed resolution A/56/l1 and strongly
condemned yesterday’s tragedy, a disastrous series of cruel and
barbaric acts, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. He
extended heartfelt sympathy to the people and Government of the
United States and to the families of the people who were killed.
The terrorist acts must strengthen the resolve of the international
community to condemn in the strongest possible way all forms of
terrorism. Those responsible must be brought to justice, he said. He
gave his full support to this resolution and the resolution adopted
this morning by the Security Council.
ELIAS GOUNARIS (Greece), speaking on behalf of the Group of
Western European and Other States, congratulated the President
on his election. He condemned the terrorist attacks of yesterday,
describing them as a tragedy that challenged all humanity. He
expressed the Group's solidarity with the United States and offered
condolences to the families of the victims. He appealed to all
States to cooperate in bringing the perpetrators, organizers and
sponsors of the attacks to justice. The United Nations should
spare no effort in the fight against terrorism. The Group fully
supported the Assembly resolution.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM (United States) thanked speakers for their
expressions of condolence and sympathy for the victims and their
families. He also conveyed the thanks of President Bush and the
American people to all the many world leaders who had shown their
support and offered their assistance in this time of grief. Stating
that all in the Assembly Hall were New Yorkers at this time of
tragedy, he said he was struck by how many delegates had expressed
that sentiment to him. He noted that many non-Americans would
be counted among the victims of the attack.
The Assembly’s decision to open the fifty-sixth session today
was right, and demonstrated that “we are united and strong in
the face of terror”. The entire international community and the
shared values upon which the United Nations was founded were under
assault. The Security Council resolution passed just a few hours
ago demonstrated the determination of the international community
to confront and triumph over that evil, as would the Assembly
resolution which was about to be adopted.
"Yesterday's attack requires that we choose sides between
the values of human rights and democracy, held dear by all decent
people, or terrorism and the law of the jungle. There are those
who oppose terrorism and those who use it. There should be no
doubt: we will deal with those who support and harbour terrorists
as we deal with the terrorists themselves”, he said.
"Because the attack struck at all of us, it is right
that we should work towards a coalition to defend our shared values
against terrorism. Working in coalition, we can multiply the effectiveness
of our response." Continuing, he said, "None of us or
our children will forget yesterday's horrifying images. They will
become unfortunate but indelible icons of the twenty-first century. Let
this serve as a constant reminder of the need to eliminate this
scourge, and of the need for determination and action to so."
Action
The Assembly then adopted draft resolution A/56/L.2, on
Condemnation of Terrorist Acts in the United States of America,
without a vote.
It also adopted, without a vote, the draft decision contained
in document A/56/L.2, concerning postponement of the special session
for follow-up to the World Summit for Children. The session was
scheduled for 19-21 September.
The Assembly further decided that the two-day high-level
dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for
development through partnership, announced for 17 and 18 September,
would take place on 20 and 21 September.
The Secretary-General pleaded with delegates to keep the
concern for children utmost in their minds, even if the special
session was postponed. He said the draft outcome document was
close to being finalized, and urged delegates to keep up the work
and take up the issue within the next week, despite the postponement.
YASHAR ALIYEV (Azerbaijan) proposed that the United Nations
medical services organize a blood drive for the victims of the
attacks. The proposal was adopted by acclamation.
