United Nations Secretary-General’s Statement:
Today we mark a sombre day seared in the minds of millions of people around the world. A day when nearly 3,000 lives from over 90 countries were taken by terrorists in cowardly and heinous attacks in the United States of America.
Thousands more were injured. On this day, my thoughts are with the victims and their families. We pay tribute to the survivors, who have had to overcome physical and emotional scars to get on with their lives.
We honour the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way, with many making the ultimate sacrifice, exemplifying the very humanity and compassion that terrorism seeks to erase. And we remember the solidarity, unity and resolve expressed 20 years ago by the international community, aiming for a future without terrorism.
Today, we stand in solidarity with the people of New York City, the United States of America, as well as all victims of terrorism everywhere around the world. We recommit ourselves to work together to uphold their rights and needs.
New York, 11 September 2021
United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Statement:
Today we honor the nearly 3,000 people, from the United States and 90 countries across the globe, who were taken from us on September 11, 2001. Twenty years later, we remember them – those who perished in the World Trade Center, including the heroic first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice to help others, the servicemembers and civil servants of the Pentagon, and the passengers of the four fateful flights, including those of Flight 93 who, in an act of pure courage, gave their lives for the sake of those on the ground. We also embrace and share our condolences with the family members and survivors who have lived with trauma, grief, and lasting health impacts from this horrible day.
This morning, I was honored to join President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, two former presidents, National September 11th Memorial and Museum Chairman Michael Bloomberg, family members and survivors for a reading of names and six moments of silence.
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to lead a visit by all 15 members of the United Nations Security Council to the National September 11th Memorial and Museum here in New York. This was the first public excursion of the Council since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it reflected our continued resolve to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Visiting the memorial marked another milestone: the 20th anniversaries of Resolutions 1373 and 1368, which the Security Council adopted in the wake of September 11th and galvanized international counterterrorism cooperation efforts. Together, these resolutions called on all states to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of the September 11th attacks, as well as to redouble efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts. Twenty years later, the United States, our partners, and our allies continue to remember the events of September 11 that spurred international action — and we will never forget.
As we honor those who perished, we reflect on the spirit of service, cooperation, and unity that defined the international community’s response to the horrifying attacks on that September morning. As the Glade inscription at the September 11th Memorial reads: “Here we honor the tens of thousands from across America and around the world who came to help and to heal, whose selflessness and resolve, perseverance and courage, renewed the spirit of a grieving city, gave hope to the nation, and inspired the world.”
