STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR PASCUAL ON THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON

The American Embassy in Ukraine appreciates the great outpouring of international sympathy with regard to yesterday’s terrorist attacks, including the strong supportive statement by President Kuchma and the letter of condolence from Foreign Minster Zlenko to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

As President Bush said in his televised address to the American people last night, “these acts of murder were intended to frighten the United States into chaos and retreat. But they have failed… Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of America’s biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America”.

Upon learning about the attacks in New York and Washington the Embassy immediately contacted the appropriate Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv. We appreciate their unhesitating response to increase security at American facilities in Kyiv.

At present there is no specific threat to American citizens in Ukraine. The U.S. Embassy is open for normal business. The increased security is a precautionary measure.

There are still no confirmed reports about who is responsible for the terrorist attacks. President Bush has directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible for these cowardly acts and to bring them to justice.

Yesterday’s terrorist actions were more than an attack against the United States – they were an attack against our civilization, against the values of human dignity and freedom. The victims were office workers, businessmen and women, military and federal workers, mother and fathers. As President Bush said, “none of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”