Friday 14 September, day of grief and mourning declared by OSCE

VIENNA, 13 September 2001 (OSCE) - The 55-nation Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) decided to declare the day of Friday 14 September a day of grief and mourning at its meeting today. The flags of the participating States of the OSCE in Vienna will be flown at half-mast.

In the decision, the participating States express their sorrow, outrage, horror and revulsion at "the barbaric acts of terrorism which have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage in New York City and Washington, D.C."

The 55 participating States express their deepest and sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and their solidarity with the people and Government of the United States.

"This tragedy affects all of us. These were acts not against the United States alone but against all of humanity", reads the decision. It stresses the determination of the participating States to act "together with the entire international community, to unite and put an end to terrorism, a scourge of our times which threatens peace and security throughout the world".

The participating States call for those sponsoring, organizing, harbouring and supporting in any way the execution of these criminal acts to be brought to justice.

The representatives of the 55 States observed a minute of silence after taking the decision.

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For further information contact Josue Anselmo, OSCE Spokesperson, mobile 0664 325 3698, or the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: +43-1-514-36-180; fax: +43-1-514-36-105; e-mail: info@osce.org