Statement on Terrorism by the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies

The Convening Group of the Community of Democracies condemns the unprecedented terrorist attacks last week at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania that have shocked by the American people and the entire world. We express our solidarity with the families and friends of the thousands of innocent victims of this atrocity, as well as with all the citizens of the United States.

All nations have an obligation to join in firm reaction to this tragic loss of human life and destruction. This horrific crime was perpetrated on American soil but its effects touch all members of the international community, including most especially those nations who lost citizens in the attack. Democracy, as well as international peace, and security, has been greatly endangered. We are convinced that the initiators, organizers, and perpetrators of this attack, as well as those who aided, supported, financed or harbored them, or assisted them in any manner, will be held accountable.

Criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public or a group of persons for whatever purposes, are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations or factors that may be invoked to justify them.

Open, liberal and pluralistic societies are particularly vulnerable to terrorism, which targets democracies by choice and is a continuing threat to international peace and security. All nations must unite and put a definitive end to terrorism by all possible means. The Convening Group will do its best to contribute to this global united effort and to urge all States to cooperate to strengthen the international fight against terrorism wherever and by whomsoever committed.

On June 27, 2000, in Warsaw, Poland, over 100 countries that gathered at a meeting "Towards a Community of Democracies" endorsed the Warsaw Declaration and Communique, in which they rejected all forms of hatred, violence and extremism and stressed the need to intensify cooperation to fight terrorism and other transnational challenges as follows:

"We resolve to strengthen cooperation to face transnational challenges to democracy, such as state-sponsored, cross-border and other forms of terrorism, …and to do so in accordance with respect for the human rights of all persons and for the norms of international law."

Members of the Community of Democracies' Convening Group believe that continuing the work to strengthen democracy and to promote its core values and principles will help to create a stable international order and a climate of mutual understanding and tolerance that can effectively prevent violence and crimes against humanity.