September 11, 2001 Commemoration

Released by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations

President Kavan and Secretary-General Annan, thank you for your presence and for sponsoring this commemorative event.

Ladies and Gentlemen, so many of you have approached me and my colleagues at the U.S. Mission to express your personal solidarity as friends of New York and America. I wish I could thank you one by one. Please know that your words of condolence and sympathy rest in a special place with each of us. As diplomats and international civil servants, we are professionals in dealing with issues and events that transcend our individual concerns and interests. At the end of the day, though, we all need to feel a sustaining sense of connection, one person in touch with another. You have provided us with that sense of connection. Because of your support, we have not felt alone in the face of tragedy.

September 11, 2001 reminded us—and will always remind us—that every day is precious. Every day is a struggle between doing what is right and what is wrong.

In the past year we have come to know the biographies of almost 3,000 victims of terror, including nationals from over 90 countries—your own fellow citizens. Week by week the New York Times has published vignettes and anecdotes about those who perished in the World Trade towers.

Which one of them was not a gift to his or her family, colleagues, community? Which one of them was not contributing to the great effort we at the United Nation embrace—the creation of a better, safer, more prosperous world?

Today we honor these victims’ inspiring lives. We also give thanks for those heroes who, in the last twelve months, have made the ultimate sacrifice in driving terror from the face of the earth so that the worst part of September 11, 2001 might become history and the best part—the miracle of constructive human endeavor—might become the future.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the United Nations understood that the attacks on the United States were attacks on civilization everywhere. The General Assembly gave swift voice to its outrage; the Secretary General spoke out forcefully; and the Security Council condemned acts of international terrorism as threats to international peace and security.

The United States is grateful for this solidarity. We must make common cause against terror, and we have made common cause against terror.

A great coalition of states has taken action against the Taliban, al Quaeda and their supporters. In President Bush’s words, justice is being served, and the high purposes of the UN Charter are being fulfilled. The coalition against terror continues to pursue those responsible while providing vital support to help Afghans rebuild their country.

Neither job is finished; great challenges still loom ahead. But only a united world can defeat terror, and in solidarity with the victims of September 11, 2001, whatever their nationality, we renew our commitment to prevail.

Thank you, one and all, very much.