Remarks
of Roger F. Noriega, permanent representative to the Organization of American
States (OAS), to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio
Treaty) Committee, October 16, 2001
Global
Campaign Against Terrorism: Operation Enduring Freedom And Other Common
Actions Against Terrorism
Roger F. Noriega,
Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS)
Remarks to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty)
Committee
Washington, DC
October 16, 2001
Mr. Chairman,
The military of the United States of America and of Great Britain began
strikes against al-Qaida terrorist training camps and military installations
of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan on October 7, as part of the U.S.
Operation Enduring Freedom. As U.S. President George W. Bush has explained,
these carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan
as a terrorist base of operations, and to attack the military capability
of the Taliban regime. Today, I have asked representatives of the U.S.
Department of Defense to brief this Committee on the military actions
now under way.
These actions, I note, are wholly consistent with the resolutions passed
in this Casa de las Americas on September 19th and September 21st pursuant
to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, having the objective
of responding to the armed attacks by terrorists on sites in the United
States of America and preventing and deterring future terrorist acts in
this Hemisphere.
We were joined in these initial operations by Great Britain. Many other
nations have pledged forces as the operation unfolds. More than 40 countries
in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia have granted air transit or
landing rights. Many more are sharing intelligence. As my President has
noted with confidence, "We are supported by the collective will of
the world."
I will defer to representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense to outline
the military actions against terrorism that are now under way. But I will
note that our military response was launched a full 20 days after the
bloody attacks on my country.
The United States has acted deliberately, carefully, and in concert with
a large international coalition. As the men and women in this room can
attest personally, we acted only after beginning diligent diplomatic efforts
to enlist international support for this global campaign. We acted only
after being convinced that Usama bin Laden, his al-Qaida gang, and his
Taliban protectors share responsibility for these attacks against our
citizens. And, we acted only after careful planning to identify military
targets that would have the greatest impact on the terrorists and those
who harbor them.
Two weeks before resorting to military action, President Bush gave the
Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands: Close terrorist
training camps; hand over leaders of the al-Qaida network; and free all
foreign nationals, including American citizens, unjustly detained in Afghanistan.
As President Bush said upon announcing our military response, "None
of these demands were met. And now the Taliban will pay a price. Every
nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground."
Our President has committed our nation unambiguously and fully: "The
battle is now joined on many fronts," he said on October 7. "We
will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not
fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."
International Diplomatic
Actions
The OAS member states have collectively answered the call, pledging solidarity
and cooperation. Parties to the Rio Treaty have unanimously approved a
resolution that puts the Hemisphere foursquare within the global coalition
confronting terrorism.
That Rio Treaty resolution
states clearly that these "terrorist attacks against the United States
of America are attacks against all American states and that in accordance
with all relevant provisions of the Rio Treaty and the principle of continental
solidarity, all States Parties to the Rio Treaty shall provide effective
reciprocal assistance to address such attacks and the threat of any similar
attacks."
Specifically, the
Rio Treaty parties have committed:
* "To use all legally available measures to pursue, capture, extradite,
and punish" any persons involved in the September 11 attacks or any
persons harboring the perpetrators; and,
* To "render additional assistance and support to the United States
and to each other" to address the September 11 attacks and "to
prevent future terrorist acts."
The OAS foreign ministers -- including those states that are not party
to the Rio Treaty -- also called upon "all member states and the
entire international community to take effective measures to deny terrorist
groups the ability to operate within their territories¼."
The ministers declared that "those responsible for aiding, supporting,
or harboring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts are
equally complicit in these acts."
Complying with mandates from the foreign ministers, the Inter-American
Committee Against Terrorism, which is currently chaired by the United
States, met in a Special Session yesterday to identify practical, urgent
steps that governments in the region should take to fight terrorism, with
the initial focus on drying up sources of financing and ferreting out
their illicit assets as well as encouraging stronger border controls and
airport security.
In addition, the OAS Permanent Council will begin a thorough but urgent
drafting process which we expect will develop a regional accord for fighting
terrorism that is both forward-looking and practical. It could potentially
serve as a model for the rest of the world, given the exceptional degree
of unity of purpose and resolve within the Hemisphere.
The UN Security Council has spelled out our immediate tasks in Resolution
1373. It is an urgent call to action. All of us must emphasize to our
governments the critical need to implement the measures it mandates. Resolution
1373 goes to the heart of how terrorism operates - it will deny the terrorist
financing, safe haven, and other forms of support; the Security Council
itself will closely monitor its implementation.
International Financial
Actions
We must all join in this global coalition to disrupt terrorist financing.
The U.S. Government and the United Nations have provided names of terrorist
groups and individuals to the world community.
Since September 11,
the United States has frozen approximately $4 million in assets belonging
to the Taliban, Usama bin Laden and the al-Qaida network -- and several
million dollars in additional assets are under review. Over 100 countries
have committed to joining the effort to disrupt terrorist assets, and
62 countries already have put blocking orders in force. Nations around
the world have frozen more than $24 million is assets since September
11.
At the request of the G-7, the Financial Action Task Force (a group of
29 countries) will hold an extraordinary plenary meeting in Washington
D.C. at the end of this month to focus on specific measures to combat
terrorist financing. U.S. Treasury officials attended a meeting of CARICOM
this month to discuss ongoing cooperation in disrupting the financial
infrastructure of terrorism. And a U.S. Justice Department expert briefed
the Inter-America Commission Against Terrorism yesterday.
Investigate Actions
No small part of our efforts is to pursue these terrorists through the
rule of law. On that front, the United States is leading an unprecedented
investigation. U.S. investigators have interrogated over 600 people who
may have been involved with the attacks, analyzed 241 serious/credible
threats, conducted 383 searches, obtained 4,407 subpoenas, and arrested
or detained 439 persons.
There are al-Qaida
organizations in roughly 68 countries. In this part of our anti-terrorism
campaign, as well, we are counting on -- and receiving -- the support
of friendly governments. More than 30 countries are providing support
in the ongoing criminal investigation. In an effort to ferret out these
terrorist cells we have intensified counterterrorist operations with more
than 200 intelligence and security services worldwide.
The international community already is taking concrete measures to round
up the al-Qaida terrorist network. Over 200 suspected members have now
been detained in other countries. We urge all countries to continue pursuing
the al-Qaida representatives and to bring them to justice.
In addition, the United States Congress is moving deliberately but urgently
to approve law enforcement measures sought by President Bush to assist
law enforcement authorities and intelligence agencies to ferret out terrorists
and thwart their evil plans. On Thursday morning, the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the U.S. Senate is expected to hold hearings on the International
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International
Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings.
Conclusion
President Bush has made our policy clear: "We will direct every resource
at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence,
every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every
necessary weapon of war -- to the disruption and to the defeat of the
global terror network."
Mr. Chairman, my
Government is particularly pleased with the concrete actions the Foreign
Ministers of the Hemisphere have prescribed in applying the full host
of measures available under the Rio Treaty and the Charter of OAS. And
we are gratified by your personal leadership, and that of the Brazilian
government, in this cause.
Let us continue our
dedicated and urgent work against terrorism. Thank you.
As of October 17, 2001,
this document was also available online at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/rm/2001/index.cfm?docid=5417 