By IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all people to stand against terrorism, in a special message on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attack.
“To truly honour the memory of those who died — and the sacrifice of the brave responders who rushed to the scenes of the attacks — all people must stand against terrorism,” Xinhua quoted Ban as saying in a statement.
The UN chief said the attacks targeted more than one single country — they were an assault on humanity itself, and on the universal values of peace and dignity the UN was created to promote and defend.
“That is why the UN stood in solidarity with the US and with all affected people and countries. The Security Council and General Assembly joined their voices in a chorus that spoke for all countries in condemning the attacks and demanding justice,” he said.
Ban said the entire UN system had been proceeding fast to intensify an already wide-ranging and long-standing campaign against terrorism since that fateful day.
The world body adopted, for instance, a Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in 2006, the first strategic approach to terror threats ever to be endorsed by the entire UN membership.
“At the same time, we continue our long-standing work for peace, efforts that encompass preventive diplomacy, supporting democracy and working to keep failing states from descending into chaos,” Ban said.
Recalling the terrorist attack on the UN building in Nigeria recently, Ban said the UN has also been a target of terrorism like so many other people and institutions around the world.
“No cause or grievance can ever justify such wanton killing and destruction,” he said.
“This challenge affects the entire world. The UN is determined to honour the memory of those who died 10 years ago by galvanising all countries in this fight to seek justice, promote peace and build a better and more secure future for generations to come.”