19 September 2001

European, Eurasian Governments and Organizations Send Messages to U.S.

By Christine Johnson
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Within hours of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, heads of state and government throughout Europe and Eurasia, and organizations in the region, began sending messages of condolence to U.S. leaders and the American people.

In these messages and in other statements, they expressed shock and outrage at the magnitude of the attacks, many describing them as a crime against freedom and democracy.

Although the attacks took place on U.S. soil, it quickly became clear that the destruction of the World Trade Center would affect scores of countries whose nationals worked in offices, restaurants and shops in the area or were visiting as tourists. Thus arose the feeling -- voiced by many -- that this horror had been visited upon civilization itself.

Following is a brief sampling of messages from Europe and Eurasia:

Sweden:

"The terrorist attacks on the United States were attacks on us all, on the greatest and most beautiful idea of our time: the equal value of all and each person's inviolability, democracy itself has been attacked. But democracy will survive this attack because we are many."

Croatia:

"The world will not be the same, nothing in the world will be the same.... As of yesterday there is no longer neutrality, neither can there be any.... I do not doubt that the vast majority of the world's states will side with the antiterrorist alliance which simply must be established."

Netherlands:

"The United States has been hit in the heart: Economically, financially, politically, and militarily, but above all, humanly.... Now that the fundamental values, which we stand for mutually, have been brutally trampled, their significance is even more visible and palpable for us all."

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:

"Words are not sufficient to describe this situation.... If the US cannot protect from terrorism, then nobody is safe. Today's tragedy is the strongest proof for the need of decisive combat against terrorism until its elimination."

Ukraine:

"Ukraine decisively condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and urges all acceptable actions in civilized society to eliminate this inhuman way of attaining goals."

Germany:

"We all -- all Germans -- are filled with dismay at the terrorist attacks in the United States. This is a declaration of war against the entire civilized world. Those who help or harbor these terrorists violate all the fundamental values on which international coexistence is based."

Kyrgyzstan:

"It is imperative to strengthen international cooperation in combating this global evil without frontiers and nationalities in order to prevent the repetition of what has happened."

Turkey:

"The Turkish government is ready as ever to cooperate with you, and the Turkish people stand by you at this difficult hour."

Russia:

"It is a brazen challenge to the whole humanity, at least to civilized humanity.... We entirely and fully share and experience your pain. We support you.... The whole international community must rally in the fight against terrorism."

Italy:

"Italy is in mourning. These attacks against the United States hit and offend the entire international community. They require a fight without quarter against terrorism. We know that in this way we will defend the values that are at the basis of civilization and community living among peoples."

Czech Republic:

"It is a huge warning to civilization calling on us to mobilize our responsibility for this world. Fanatics and madmen may not hold us hostage."

Cyprus:

"The terrorist attacks were attacks not only against the United States and its people but against the international legal order, democracy, freedom and the most fundamental of all human rights, that of the right to life."

Denmark:

"We are up against an inhuman type of fanaticism. The democratic societies must now stand together and do everything we can to stop this terrorism."

Kazakhstan:

"The United Nations ... has condemned these barbarous acts of terrorism and has called on all mankind to take decisive action. Therefore, Kazakhstan is ready to support the measures being taken by the United States in the fight against terrorism with all the means at the disposal of Kazakhstan."

Slovenia:

"Today's crime is a new and serious warning that the international community didn't know and wasn't ready to react with adequate effectiveness to the threat of increasing, organized and internationally networked terrorism."

Greece:

"The people and the government of my country categorically condemn terrorism. We express our solidarity to the American people in these difficult moments and our determination to support world peace and security."

Bulgaria:

"Those who are responsible are mean cowards and their inhuman and brutal act should not remain unpunished."

France:

"It is with enormous emotion that France learned of the monstrous attacks that have just struck the United States of America. In these horrifying circumstances, the entire people of France stand by the people of America."

Uzbekistan:

"The people of Uzbekistan are shocked and revolted to the depths of our souls by the inhuman terrorist actions that ended the lives of many thousands of innocent people.... In these dramatic hours we are reminded of the importance of unifying of our efforts to counteract this terrible evil."

Slovakia:

"The evil of international terrorism proves to be one of the principal challenges of the 21st century."

Lithuania:

"The world has never seen a tragedy of such proportions during the time of peace. There is no doubt that this is a challenge to the whole civilized and democratic world, to freedom, the world community, to principles of coexistence and humanism.... No efforts should be spared in order to prevent that happening again in any part of the world."

Albania:

"I express my deepest sorrow on the lives lost, victims of a harsh terrorism, coming up again as a blind violence that has no limits and no future."

United Kingdom:

"What happened in the United States on Tuesday was an act of wickedness for which there can never be justification. Whatever the cause, whatever the perversion of religious feeling, whatever the political belief, to inflict such terror on the world; to take the lives of so many innocent and defenseless men, women, and children, can never ever be justified."

Romania:

"The human tragedy sorrowing the United States of America represents a tragedy shared by the whole of the human kind and stands as further proof for the fact that extremist actions can serve no cause whatsoever."

North Atlantic Council:

"The mindless slaughter of so many innocent civilians is an unacceptable act of violence without precedent in the modern era. It underscores the urgency of intensifying the battle against terrorism, a battle that the NATO countries -- indeed all civilized nations -- must win."

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe:

"These were acts not against the United States alone but against all of humanity. Those responsible for sponsoring, organizing, harboring and supporting in any way the execution of these criminal acts must be brought to justice."

European Union:

"Our thoughts are with this friendly nation which has been hit so hard by such terrible, barbaric violence. We would like to let the American people know that we feel for them at this time of pain and suffering. Today, we are all Americans."

Many other governments made statements of outrage and consolation, and expressed their determination to help end international terrorism.