COMMENTARY: Ambassador Pascual on 9/11 (09/08/02)

COMMENTARY: Ambassador Pascual on 9/11

by Ambassador Carlos Pascual

The terrorist attacks of September 11 were a tragedy not only for the U.S., but for people all over the world. One of the many countries that lost citizens in the terrorist attacks was Ukraine, where I am serving as U.S. ambassador. In the days and weeks following the terrorist attacks, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the outpouring of sympathy from the Ukrainian people. I will always remember the rows of flowers, candles and children's drawings that Ukrainians left outside our Embassy in the days following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

I have also had the chance to work with the Ukrainian government to strengthen the international coalition against terrorism. The government of Ukraine has shown its support for this global fight by allowing U.S. aircraft to use Ukrainian air space to deliver humanitarian aid and equipment to Afghanistan. Last fall, Ukraine's support at the United Nations and other international fora was unwavering. Ukraine is also one of more than 160 nations that have frozen assets associated with terrorist groups and their supporters.

On the one-year anniversary of September 11, Ukrainians will join Americans in a number of events to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks. Ukrainian students who studied in American schools and universities on U.S. government-sponsored programs will take part in an online discussion of September 11 and the war on terrorism. A professional Ukrainian photographer will dedicate to victims of the tragedy an exhibit of photographs he took in the U.S. At the opera house, there will be a requiem concert in commemoration of the tragedy. And at museums in Kyiv and Lviv, the Embassy will open exhibits of the harrowing images from Ground Zero and newspaper headlines from around the world on September 11.

As we commemorate the one-year anniversary of terrorist attacks on the U.S., it is important to remember that terrorism is not only an American problem. We are one of many nations whose people have suffered from terrorist violence. Indeed, citizens from more than 90 countries were killed on September 11.

As we have seen during the past year, our collective action has resulted in gains for our common security. More than 2,400 terrorists have been arrested by nations around the world. Afghanistan, which had been a haven for international terrorists, is no longer under the brutal control of the Taliban.

A year after terrorists attacked our country, I am more convinced than ever that terrorism is a global threat that will take a global effort to deal with effectively. The cooperation of the Ukrainian government in the fight against terrorism, along with expressions of solidarity by the Ukrainian people, are important reminders that we are not alone in this fight.

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