'Respect for human life, justice, tolerance ...' the general assembly debates terrorism.

• Author: Hagen, Jonas
• Position: Kofi Annan, United Nations

During the general debate, held from 12 to 20 September 2002, all 188 delegates condemned terrorism. On the eve of the debate, commemorating the first anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke to delegates and UN staff at UN Headquarters. Remembering the shock, grief and compassion of that day, he said that the attacks were an affront to "respect for human life, justice, tolerance, pluralism and democracy", and hoped that the "memory of those who perished ... serve to inspire a better, more just, more peaceful world for all of us".

Many delegates urged to channel anti-terrorism efforts through the United Nations, the most appropriate multilateral institution to carry out these actions. Deputy Prime Minister Serge Vohor Rialuth of Vanuatu said any retaliatory action outside of the UN would be "perilous" because such action "could ignite an already very delicate situation".

Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer of Germany said the attacks on the United States were an attack on "all open societies". He cautioned, however, that no injustices should be committed in the fight against terrorism, saying that "basic human rights are not annulled under the pretext of combating terrorism".

Linking terrorism to poverty and resentment, Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar of Singapore said: 'We should not ignore the extent to which the appeal of...