The terrorists who attacked the United States
on Sept. 11 aimed at one nation but wounded an entire world.
Rarely, if ever, has the world been as united
as it was on that terrible day. It was a unity born of horror, of fear,
of outrage and of profound sympathy with the American people.
This unity also reflected the fact that the
World Trade Center, in this uniquely international city, was home to
men and women of every faith from some 60 nations.
This was an attack on all humanity, and all humanity
has a stake in defeating the forces behind it.
As the United States decides what actions it
will take in defense of its citizens, and as the world comes to terms
with the full implications of this calamity, the unity of Sept. 11 will
be invoked, and it will be tested.
I have expressed to President Bush and Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani — and to New Yorkers at services in churches,
synagogues and mosques — the complete solidarity of the United
Nations with Americans in their grief.
In less than 48 hours, the Security Council
and the General Assembly joined me in condemning the attacks and voted
to support actions taken against those responsible and states that aid
them. Of this solidarity, let no one be in doubt.
Nor should anyone question the worldwide resolve
to fight terrorism as long as is needed.
The most eloquent global answer so far to last
week's attacks has been the commitment of states from every faith and
region to act firmly against terrorism. The international community
is defined not only by what it is for, but by what and whom it is against.
The United Nations must have the courage to recognize
that just as there are common aims, there are common enemies. To defeat
them, all nations must join forces in an effort encompassing every aspect
of the open, free global system so wickedly exploited by the perpetrators
of last week's atrocities.
The United Nations is uniquely positioned to
advance this effort. It provides the forum necessary for building a
universal coalition and can ensure global legitimacy for the long-term
response to terrorism. United Nations conventionsalready provide a legal
framework for many of the steps that must be taken to eradicate terrorism
— including the extradition and prosecution of offenders and the
suppression of money laundering. These conventions must be implemented
in full.
Essential to the global response to terrorism
is that it not fracture the unity of Sept. 11.
While the world must recognize that there are
enemies common to all societies, it must equally understand that they
are not, are never, defined by religion or national descent. No people,
no region and no religion should be targeted because of the unspeakable
acts of
individuals. As Mayor Giuliani said, "That is exactly what we are
fighting here."
To allow divisions between and within societies
to be exacerbated by these acts would be to do the terrorists' work
for them.
Terrorism threatens every society. As the world
takes action against it, we have all been reminded of the need to address
the conditions that permit the growth of such hatred and depravity.
We must confront violence, bigotry and hatred even more resolutely.
The United Nations' work must continue as we
address the ills of conflict, ignorance, poverty and disease.
Doing so will not remove every source of hatred
or prevent every act of violence. There are those who will hate and
who will kill even if every injustice is ended. But if the world can
show that it will carry on, that it will persevere in creating a stronger,
more just, more benevolent and more genuine international community
across all lines of religion and race, then terrorism will have failed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/21/opinion/21ANNA.html?todaysheadlines