United Nations commemorates 9/11
UNITED NATIONS -- In speeches, lyrics, music and poetry, ambassadors and UN staff paused Friday to commemorate 9/11, condemning the terrorist attacks 10 years ago while honoring its victims and vowing to do more to keep such an event from happening again.
"Today and on Sunday, above all, we remember the victims and their families," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "We remember the innocent men and women callously killed for doing nothing more than going to work in the morning. We remember the unimaginable courage of the heroes of Flight 93, the grieving husbands and wives, daughters and sons, friends, co-workers and neighbors, and all those who had loved ones stolen by killers who knew nothing about those they slew."
Rice spoke at a solemn ceremony in the UN General Assembly Hall during a program that also featured remarks by UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss and UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro and musical selections by the New York City Symphony, led by David Eaton, and soloists David D'Or and Mzuri Moyo.
Asatira Lenard of the Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem recited Billy Collins' poem, "The Names."
She said that in the years since the attacks, the United States and the international community have made a dent in terrorist organizations' armor.
"Together, we have deprived al-Qaida of its old and unchallenged safe haven in Afghanistan and brought new hope to the Afghan people," she said. "We have brought justice to Osama bin Laden, who will never again kill another innocent."
Deiss said the UN's response to the attacks was appropriately swift, but he agreed with Rice in saying the organization must do more.
"This is an anniversary we would hope never to have to commemorate," he said. "9/11 will mark our collective memory forever."
He added that the General Assembly had a duty to "express to the American people our sorrow and our remembrance."
Migiro said everyone could share in the responsibility for properly marking the day.
"To truly honor 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," she said.
An interfaith group of clergy lit a candle and observed a moment of silence.
"Nothing we can say will give true comfort to the families and loved ones of the victims of 9/11 and terrorist attacks around the world," Rice said. "But let us remember that Judaism, Christianity and Islam all echo the same insight: If one kills a single person, it is as if they destroyed the entire world. But if one saves a single life, it is as if they saved the entire world. For each soul is incalculably precious. No soul can be replaced."
After the commemoration, the 15 members of the Security Council issued a statement expressing their "deepest sympathy and condolences" for victims of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and saying they "reaffirmed that the attacks, like any acts of terrorism, are a threat to international peace and security. They also underscored the central role of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism."
