Press ReleaseAddress of President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma to the Ukrainian People on the Terrorist Act Committed against the U.S.12 September 2001Dear compatriots, Yesterday, on September 11th, 2001 unheard-of, horrible crime was committed against the United States of America, against the American people. Millions of people around the globe are deeply shocked by what they have seen and heard. The exact number of human material losses is still unknown, however this woeful count will be tremendous. This terrorist act is historically unprecedented in terms of its scale, cruelty and cynicism. On your behalf, my fellow citizens, and on behalf of the whole Ukrainian nation I have sent President of the USA George Bush words of deep condolence and pain from grief that fell upon this country, its people, and resolved condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and exertions. This sorrow has left no country and no nation indifferent. We are facing fierce grin of terrorism – the weapon of blind and ruthless hatred that shall not rein in before anything. We once again saw that in our days there’re no national borders and state frontiers for terrorism. The tragic events of September 11th represent a challenge not only for America and its people. This is the challenge for the whole world, for everyone who keeps and wishes to keep the God’s commandments and human, not animals’ laws. It was not accidentally that the terrorists chose the opening time of UN General Assembly to strike a destructive blow against the USA. The narrowness of modern world is especially evident today. At the same time its vulnerability to diabolic villainy and ingenuity of forces of evil wishing to rebuild it their way is evident as well. Therefore, facing this threat, the whole civilized world must close its ranks, demonstrate its unity, conformity and coordination of actions to effectively counteract to the evil plans and intentions. This is the principal position of Ukraine, which has put forward and is putting forward initiatives aimed at joining the efforts to combat international terrorism. Today nobody should doubt the urgent need for development and deepening of cooperation in this field between states and special services, for elaboration of joint documents at international and regional levels. We are ready to submit and we shall submit relevant proposals. This must be such a joint action plan that would reliably safeguard against slightest possibility of recurrence of anything similar to the yesterday’s tragedy. At the same time the need to get rid of all double standards, in particular of those in defining terrorism and crimes, and the need for practical actions resulting from this, are evident as well. A terrorist must be called a terrorist and a criminal must be called a criminal, irrespectively of the guise under which they are acting and political camouflage under which they are hiding. Besides its international aspect, the problem of prevention and combat against terrorism has important internal dimension. Realizing the tragedy of what has happened in those days, we must draw serious and adequate conclusions, not downplaying possible threats. I consider comprehensive ensuring discipline, organization and order to be our joint obligation. This as well relates to service, professional and civil responsibility for everything that is done at assigned position, in the state and society as a whole. Those days do not tolerate flippancy, carelessness and disorder. Those services and people tasked to protect your peace and order, your safety, must and shall perform their duties objectively, competently and responsibly. Relevant decisions and recommendations have been made at today’s meeting of the National Security and Defense Council that I summoned today. Their implementation will be specially controlled. We have enough forces and means to protect our state and its citizens. Terrorism shall not get along, it has no place in the modern world! Dear compatriots, Sorrow hurts, but it gathers as well. We see the unity with which the American nation, its political leaders and authorities have met and is living through the national tragedy. I call for similar strengthening of unity here in Ukraine. The eternal norms of morality, humanity and mercy tell us to do so. In those difficult times let us be wise, considered and far-seeing people conscious of our duties before the present and the future. For additional information, please contact: 
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