25 September 2001

Fact Sheet: International Organizations Respond to Sept. 11 Attacks

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, several international organizations have responded with resolutions and calls to action. Following are brief descriptions of those measures:

September 12

The U.N. Security Council approves unanimously Resolution 1368, condemning "in strongest terms" the terrorist attacks and calling on all member states to bring the perpetrators to justice. The resolution cites the right of individual or collective self-defense as well as international anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 1269 (1999). Text of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1368:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/SC7143.doc.htm

The U.N. General Assembly adopts a Resolution (A/RES/56/1) on Condemnation of Terrorist Acts in the United States of America. The measure calls for "international cooperation to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the outrages of 11 September 2001" and "to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism." In particular, the resolution "stresses that those responsible for aiding, supporting, or harboring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of such acts will be held accountable." Text of the U.N. General Assembly resolution:

http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/56/agresolution.htm

The North Atlantic Council, meeting in Brussels, issues a declaration on the terrorist attacks in the United States, saying "if it is determined that this attack was directed from abroad against the United States, it shall be regarded as an action covered by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one or more of the Allies in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." The council states that "the United States' NATO Allies stand ready to provide the assistance that may be required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism." Text of the declaration by the North Atlantic Council:

http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p01-124e.htm

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that key monetary authorities around the world are working to ensure the "orderly functioning of financial markets" following the terrorist attacks, and that the Fund "stands ready to assist its member countries as appropriate." Text of the IMF statement:

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/nb/2001/nb0188.htm

Heads of the central banks and finance ministries of the Group of Seven (G-7) industrial countries pledge to ensure that financial markets operate in an orderly fashion following the September 11 attacks. The G-7 leaders agree to provide liquidity and "stand ready to take further action as necessary" to stabilize global markets. Text of the statement by G-7 finance ministers:

http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/g7/finance/fm010912.htm

Meeting in a special session, the European Union adopts a declaration saying, "The Union and its Member States will spare no efforts to help identify, bring to justice and punish those responsible: There will be no safe haven for terrorists and their sponsors." The EU pledges to "work closely with the United States and all partners to combat international terrorism."

Text of the European Union Declaration

September 13

Taking action after the September 12 meeting of heads of G-7 central banks, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Federal Reserve agree on a swap arrangement allowing the ECB to draw up to $50,000 million in U.S. dollar deposits held by the Federal Reserve in exchange for an equivalent amount of euros. Text of the ECB press release on the swap agreement:

http://www.ecb.int/

The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council releases a statement affirming commitment "not to let those responsible for such an inhuman act to go unpunished." NATO and Russia vow to intensify cooperation "to defeat this scourge." Text of the statement by the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council:

http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p010913e.htm

The NATO-Ukraine Commission issues a similar statement of commitment "to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and punished." In addition, Ukraine pledges it is "ready to contribute fully to this effort." Text of the statement by the NATO-Ukraine Commission:

http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2001/p01-126e.htm

September 14

The United States and Australia conclude that Article IV of their mutual defense treaty (the ANZUS Treaty) applies to the terrorist attacks in the United States. The Australian government states it will be in "close consultation with the United States Administration in the period ahead to consider what actions Australia might take in support of the U.S. response to these attacks." Text of an Australian government statement on ANZUS:

http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases2001/media_release1241.htm

Parliamentary leaders from all 19 NATO countries endorse the September 12 declaration by the North Atlantic Council and go further to declare they would "fully support member governments in providing the United States any and all the diplomatic, political, and, if required, military means at their disposal in order to deal with the perpetrators of this outrage." Information on and text of the declaration by NATO Parliament:

http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01091727.htm

The heads of state and government of the European Union members issue a joint statement endorsing the September 12 EU declaration, as well as calling on police and judiciary authorities of all countries to intensify efforts to hunt the perpetrators of terrorism.

Text of the statement by the Council of the European Union

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) opens its annual human rights conference with a pledge to make the fight against terrorism a top priority. The Organization's Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, asks the 55 OSCE member states to cut off "the venomous tentacles of terrorism." Text of the OSCE press release:

http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=1990

September 18

The U.N. Security Council holds a closed session on the political, military, and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, after which it reissues demands on the Taliban. In particular, the Council cites its Resolution 1333, passed on December 19, 2000, which condemns the Taliban for sheltering and training terrorists and planning terrorist acts. It insists that the Taliban "turn over Usama bin Laden to appropriate authorities in a country where he has been indicted ... or to appropriate authorities in a country where he will be arrested and effectively brought to justice." Information on the U.N. Security Council's closed session: http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01091815.htm

Text of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1333: http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2000/res1333e.pdf

September 19

The Organization of American States approves a resolution condemning the September 11 acts of terrorism and a second resolution calling upon OAS nations and other governments to use "all necessary and available means to pursue, capture, and punish those responsible." The OAS resolutions invoke the Rio Treaty (The 1947 Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance), which is based on Article 29 of the OAS Charter and provides for a collective security mechanism. Under the terms of the treaty, an armed attack on one member is to be considered an attack on all. Text of OAS Resolution CP/RES. 796 (1293/01):

http://www.oas.org/OASpage/crisis/cp_res796en.htm

Text of OAS Resolution CP/RES. 797 (1293/01):

http://www.oas.org/OASpage/crisis/cp_res797en.htm

September 20

The United States and the European Union vow to step up cooperation on aviation and other transportation security, police and judicial activities, financial sanctions, export controls, border controls, and exchange of electronic data in order to combat terrorism. Text of the joint U.S.-EU statement:

http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01092017.htm

The heads of state of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations call upon their foreign, finance, justice, and other relevant ministers to develop specific measures to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts, urging all countries to ratify the 12 United Nations counter-terrorism conventions. Information on and text of the statement by the heads of G-8 governments: http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01092013.htm

September 21

The chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, calls on all 55 OSCE participating states to work together to develop a plan of action to fight terrorism. He cites areas of potential cooperation, including border monitoring and policing, counter-terrorist training and standardized legislation. Text of the OSCE press release:

http://www.osce.org/news/generate.php3?news_id=2000

The Organization of American States holds a ministerial meeting to endorse the September 19 OAS resolutions and enact further measures to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts. The ministers pledge "that the States Parties shall render additional assistance and support to the United States and to each other, as appropriate, to address the September 11 attacks, and also to prevent future terrorist acts." Text of the Resolution by OAS Foreign Ministers of the Americas (RC.24/RES.1/01): http://www.oas.org/ (See "Resolution: Terrorist Threat to the Americas")