OSCE Permanent Council honours victims of terrorism in Russia with minute's silence

VIENNA, 9 September 2004 - The OSCE Permanent Council honoured the victims of a recent series of brutal terrorist attacks in the Russian Federation with a minute's silence on Thursday.

After a number of heads of delegation expressed their sympathy and solidarity with the people of Russia, the Chairman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Ivo Petrov of Bulgaria, made the following statement:

"The series of terrorist attacks committed recently on innocent citizens in the Moscow metro station and on Russian civilian aircraft, and the hostage taking and atrocities against hundreds of innocent people in a school in the town of Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania, have deeply shaken our minds and hearts. They have come as another reminder that terrorists are indiscriminate in their actions and unscrupulous in pursuing their goals. The violence and brutality of acts targeting children and other civilians have shown the most heinous face of international terrorism and could not be justified by any cause. In the global geography of terrorism no one could feel completely safe since terrorists do not pick out their victims and do not recognize borders.

On behalf of the OSCE participating states I would like to express our sympathy and solidarity with people of North Ossetia, with all other people of the Russian Federation and with the Russian government in this grave moment. We restate our strong condemnation of terrorism for the inhumanity of its nature and for the unacceptability of its methods. Terrorism remains one of the most important threats to our security, undermining the system of values and destroying the fabric of our societies.

Three years after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 in the United States we have a solid record of commitments and measures at our disposal to combat terrorism. A common challenge requires a united response and co-operation in the efforts to find and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of terrorist acts.

Within the OSCE we have placed prevention and combating of terrorism high among our priorities. The tragedy in Beslan is yet another example of the importance to keep up our determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."