Chancellor Schröder's Statement in Observance of the First Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks in the United States

September 11, 2002

Ladies and gentlemen,

On this day our country is united with the American people in
remembering the horrible terrorist attacks that took place a year ago in New York and Washington.

Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. They are also with the people of the United States, our friends.

A year ago hundreds of thousands of Germans came together in
spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity and sympathy. This is
impressive testimony to a deeply felt friendship that is permanent and independent of any current differences of opinion.

These attacks painfully demonstrated that security in our world is
indivisible.

After September 11 Germany assumed a large measure of international responsibility in its alliances and in the framework of its international capabilities. We lent military support to the United States of American after it was attacked on its own soil. This was a new and difficult decision for Germany but one that was necessary. In the context of the UN peace mission we sent German armed forces contingents to Afghanistan to help safeguard implementation of the peace plan negotiated at the Petersberg talks.

Germany will continue to stand by its civilian and military commitments both in Operation Enduring Freedom as well as in the ISAF context.

It was right to form a broad international coalition against terrorism. We were involved in helping to assemble the coalition and assisted in getting things done in Afghanistan. This coalition needs to be preserved, since there is still a long way to go before a lasting peace can be reached.

Today we should ask ourselves whether we have made optimum use of the potentials this alliance holds out against terrorism. We should be interested in creating regional security agreements and alliances within the international coalition against terrorism. We should intensify the cooperation that has been forthcoming with a view to moving closer to a peaceful resolution of regional conflicts and problems, be they in the Middle East or in Central Asia.

And we should try to use the coalition against terrorism to forge a
coalition for global security and global development based on freedom, solidarity, justice, and the rule of law.

In this connection we want to preserve our comprehensive approach, including political and diplomatic efforts as well as economic and humanitarian aid measures.

International terrorism continues to pose a threat.

This has been shown, among other things, by recent attacks in
Afghanistan. Appropriate means must be brought to bear in the fight against terrorism.

In our country we approved two security packages containing measures aimed at supporting the work of law enforcement and investigative agencies. The Minister of the Interior has acted to ensure extreme vigilance in internal security. At the same time he has undertaken efforts to ensure that populist attempts to spread fear and panic will not be successful. This posture is aimed at guaranteeing the security of our people in a difficult world situation.

We will continue to do everything we can to succeed in the fight against international terrorism without giving up our own values.