As prepeared for delivery...

September 11 Remberance Ceremony

Remarks by Ambassador Klosson

U.S. Embassy Nicosia, September 11, 2002, 5:00pm

President Clerides, Excellencies, my fellow Ambassadors, esteemed members of the religious communities of Cyprus, ladies and gentlemen:

Thank you for coming this afternoon to the Embassy for this remembrance ceremony.

Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, almost exactly at this very hour, the calm of a warm, sun-splashed, early autumn morning in New York City was shattered by terrorism. The collapse of the twin towers turned day into night. The world was confronted with images of horror in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. We are gathered here today to remember the thousands of individuals from 90 nations who perished last September 11. We are gathered here today to hold in our hearts their families whose lives were forever changed. We are gathered here today to reflect on one of the most horrific terrorist attacks the world has witnessed.

But we are also gathered here today to rekindle our hopes and renew our resolve. And that means we gather here today to stand together -- together against those dark forces which use violence to tear apart the fabric of our international community, and together for freedom, justice, and tolerance.

We are gathered here today because we feel connected to what happened on September 11. What happened that day was not just about America and Americans. The lives of thousands of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children from 90 nations, from many different faiths, and from the four corners of our world were shattered that Tuesday morning.

Cyprus felt the impact directly , with the loss of Cypriot-American Michael Tarou, whose uncles, Mr. Achilleas Tarou and Mr. Sotiris Tarou and family members are with us. The presence here today of so many leaders from different walks of life in Cyprus, and the many letters of sympathy we have received, underline more generally our common sense of loss and solidarity. My country will remember the outpouring of friendship and sympathy in the wake of September the 11th.

The September 11 attacks were an assault on fundamental human values that bind people around the globe together. It may have been buildings in New York and Washington that were struck, but the world recognized quickly that the foundations of our international community were under attack.

From the vantage point of one short year, it is clear that the international community was not intimidated by those acts of hatred and intolerance. Far from succumbing to fear and division on which terrorists seek to prey, we are more determined, more resolved and more united than ever to defeat this international challenge. And we continue the reconstruction process, rebuilding the Pentagon and New York City, rebuilding Afghanistan where 1.5 million refugees have returned home, and rebuilding hope - hope for a world free from fear for our children and generations to come.

Cyprus has served as a valuable partner in the international struggle against terrorism. From the immediate support of government and community leaders, to the rapid implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, Cyprus has answered the call. I would like to thank President Clerides and the government of Cyprus for their sustained contributions to the international coalition's work.

Much has been accomplished over the past year by many nations represented here today, but our collective work is far from over. Much more needs to be done. My own government has dramatically refocused and reorganized its activities to better contribute to the campaign. Around the world, over 2,400 terrorists have been detained in more than 90 nations.*

More than 160 nations have frozen more than $100 million in terrorist assets. Afghanistan, long a haven for international terrorists, is no longer under the control of the Taliban.

We all must continue our efforts to disrupt terrorist operations, to cut off the flow of terrorist financing worldwide, and to stop terrorists from crossing borders to carry out their plans. The sustained commitment of the international community over the long run will ensure that terrorists will be brought to justice and that our values and our common way of life will be safeguarded.

September 11, 2001 is a date that will go down in history. But that history will not be written by the perpetrators of that tragedy. As the minutes, hours, days and months have gone by, we have witnessed everyday people doing extraordinary things. We have seen the world's leaders rise to confront this international challenge. We have seen a coming together around the world. History will thus record our ultimate triumph.

For today, however, let us remember those who perished and their families who grieve. Each has a name and each is cherished. Let us honor their memory. Let us recommit ourselves to our most basic values - freedom, justice, tolerance - and renew our resolve to triumph against the forces of evil. The future belongs not to terrorists, but to those who dream the oldest of dreams - the dream of peace and freedom.

Thank you. Now it is my honor to introduce the President of the Republic of Cyprus for his remarks, President Glafcos Clerides.