Address by the Danish Minister for European Affairs Mr. Bertel Haarder at the Commemorative Ceremony in the European Parliament

I was in the European Parliament when it happened.

We were voting in the Foreign Affairs Committee when the Chairman, Elmar Brok, gave a strange message and minutes later a shocking message.

I saw the horrible collapse on TV in my office facing Brussels Airport with airplanes starting and landing. One of these airplanes could have been heading towards this building. Remember, the 4th plane was heading for Capitol Hill - the American Parliament. Why not our Parliament?

America was the target because of its strength, its insistence on Western democracy, on freedom and tolerance.

In two world wars we in Europe have benefited from this strength and insistence. Also in the more limited wars of the last decade in the Gulf and the Balkans. We knew that after the cold war terrorism was the most obvious threat. But we didn't realize it until September 11.

September 11 reminds us that evil and cruelty are here on earth to stay. Not that some are evil, others are not. Not that one religion or culture generates evil while others don't.

It is worse than that. We Europeans should know. Remember, Europe, how it looked 60 years ago - a continent sunk into cruelty, aggression and total disrespect for human lives.

But we learned from experience.

We learned to forgive if not forget.

We learned to cooperate.

We learned to stand together here in Europe.

And we learned to stand together with the Americans.

All experience tells us this: When America and Europe stand together, freedom, democracy and tolerance will prevail. If we stand together in the fight against terrorism we will also prevail! We have to face it: not all regret what happened.

For the rest of my life I will keep in my mind the little note attached to one of the tens of thousands of flower bouquets placed spontaneously by ordinary people outside the US embassy in Copenhagen. It read "today we are all Americans".

If the terrorists intended to split Western democracies they obtained the opposite.

As long as this date will be remembered it will symbolize our will to stand together for freedom, democracy and tolerance.

That is how we can honour the victims, their families and loved ones and give a glimpse of meaning in their suffering.