UN Security Council Weighs Response to Terror Attacks in U.S.
By Bill Varner
United Nations, Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Ambassadors to the United Nations
Security Council proposed responses to yesterday's terrorist attacks on
the U.S. ranging from sanctions against any government implicated in the
assault to the use of UN troops to capture the perpetrators.
The 15-member Council met to adopt a statement condemning the attacks
as UN headquarters in New York opened on schedule under heavy security.
``For the time being it is difficult to take action, but once responsibility
has been established, the UN might want to use different provisions to catch
the persons responsible and try them,'' Colombian Ambassador Alfonso
Valdivieso said.
China's ambassador, Wang Yinfan, said the UN should do what it can to
strengthen international cooperation against terrorism. ``This attack has
been a challenge to the whole international community,'' he said.
UN deliberations paralleled those at the European Union and the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization as U.S. President George W. Bush described
the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and
the Pentagon in Washington as ``an act of war.''
Two hijacked commercial airliners slammed into the skyscrapers yesterday,
leading to their collapse and the likely deaths of thousands of office
workers. Another jet was flown into the side of the Pentagon near downtown
Washington, where at least 100 people may have died. A fourth seized
aircraft, possibly intended for Washington, crashed in Pennsylvannia.
Even as Bush vowed to retaliate, the U.S. said it didn't have a specific
recommendation for UN action.
U.S. Awaits UN
``We have to see what kind of an international initiative there is
going to be,'' Minister Counselor Cameron Hume said. ``The UN will be
a part of that.''
Acting U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said the U.S. hasn't decided
whether to go ahead with its plan to push for the lifting of sanctions
against Sudan, which the Security Council was scheduled to consider on
Monday.
The U.S. has designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism, in part
because of what it calls the harboring of individuals linked to alleged
terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Yet there is no indication Sudan was
involved in yesterday's attacks.
The Security Council opened a public meeting at noon with a moment of
silence for the people who died in the violence.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan followed with a brief statement to
the Council.
``Our host country, and this host city, have been subjected to a terrorist
attack which horrifies us all,'' Annan said. ``All of us feel deep shock
and revulsion at the cold-blooded viciousness of this attack.
``A terrorist attack on one country is an attack on humanity as a whole,''
Annan said. ``All nations of the world must work together to identify the
perpetrators and bring them all to justice.''
General Assembly Meets
British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said the attack ``took us to a place
beyond our imagining.''
Ukrainian Ambassador Valery Kuchinsky asked that Sept. 11 be named an
``international day to combat terrorism'' and called for a meeting of
foreign ministers from Security Council member countries to consider
the most appropriate response.
The 56th session of the General Assembly is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
New York time with the election of South Korean Foreign Minister
Han Seung-soo as its president.
The General Assembly, where all 189 member nations of the UN are
represented, is expected to adopt a resolution on the attack and
consider whether to postpone the Sept. 19-21 special session on
children or the Sept. 24-26 series of speeches by heads of state and
government.
More than 80 world leaders are expected to attend the special session
on children and 40, including Bush and Palestinian Authority President
Yasser Arafat, are expected to address the General Assembly.
The Deutsche Press Agency reported that the special session on children
would be postponed, citing French Family Minister Segolene Royal. Unicef
spokeswoman Elizabeth Barrie said the decision was up to the General Assembly.
Security Steps
The General Assembly will consider a draft declaration prepared by Chile
that ``strongly condemns'' the attack, expresses condolences to the U.S.
and ``renews its call for the urgent need to enhance international
cooperation to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism.''
New York City police and UN security officers closed FDR Drive, which
runs under the UN, and used dump trucks filled with sand to block First
Avenue in front of the UN complex and cross streets in the area.
Only UN diplomats, staff and reporters were allowed to enter the buildings.
All tours were cancelled.
The UN press office said the world body's overseas offices are open,
except for Afghanistan, where about 80 workers are being withdrawn.
The UN flag was flown at half-staff, which meant, according to UN protocol,
that the 189 national flags set in a row along First Avenue aren't flying
at all.
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