Statement on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Thorbjørn Jagland

Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

Kostyantyn Gryshchenko

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

Strasbourg, 7 September - On this day of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks we first and foremost pay tribute to the victims and their families.

This tragic date of mourning should serve as a reminder that terrorism has no ideology, no nationality and no religion. Terrorism in all its forms is a violation of the most fundamental human right: the right to life. Regardless of where, by whom and against whom terrorist offences are perpetrated, these crimes affect us all and target humanity as a whole.

The purpose of terrorism is to induce fear and to create divisions. Our response must be based on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Terrorists are set to destroy these fundamental values and by protecting them, we make terrorists fail.

Recalling the relevant Council of Europe instruments, in particular its Conventions to prevent and combat terrorism, we reiterate our firm determination to continue fighting international terrorism, through strengthening the international legal framework, addressing the causes of terrorism and safeguarding the respect for fundamental values shared by the member states of the Council of Europe.