9/11 Remarks by Chargé d'Affaires Maryruth Coleman
September 11, 2007

We have gathered here and at every U.S. Embassy around the world over the past 6 years to mark the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in NY, WA and PA.

Since that shocking day when death came out of the blue to innocent working people and the brave rescue workers who rushed to assist them, other terrible attacks have killed and maimed people in countries around the world – UK, Spain, India, Egypt, Thailand, India, to name a few.

While we mourn the victims, we also ask, “What can we do?” 

On the one hand, practical cooperation to combat terrorism is underway and has had important success – closer law enforcement and judicial cooperation has foiled plots, reduced the flow of terrorist financing and brought criminals to justice. 

Here at our embassy we have participated in bilateral and multilateral efforts to strengthen security at ports and border crossings in this region and to improve the security of travel documents.

But I think that diplomatic and people to people efforts to increase mutual understanding, uphold human rights and improve standards of living are in the long run equally vital tools to contain and reduce terrorist threats.

It may sound overly simple, but when we promote cultural exchange, strengthen inter-ethnic understanding, reach out to people in all walks of life, stand up for those who are repressed, engage as responsible citizens in the issues that confront our societies and beyond, we create strongholds of free societies that can withstand terrorist attacks and reach out to help other in distress.

Prešeren spoke of a world of nations who long for a future without strife, when every citizen knows his neighbor as a friend, never an enemy.  “Ne vrag, le sosed bo mejak.” 

Let us take a moment on this commemoration day to resolve to continue to work together for that dream.