Reaction by country // Associated Press // Monday, September 17, 2001
Here is the country-by-country reaction of last Tuesday's attack on America. International actions and events connected with the U.S. campaign to find and punish those responsible for attacks on New York and Washington.
AFGHANISTAN: The Muslim fundamentalist Taliban leaders, who have refused to hand Osama bin Laden over to the West, said they were fortifying bunkers in preparation for a possible U.S. military response to the attacks. All foreigners were ordered to leave, and many Afghans began to flee.
ARMENIA: Armenia condemned the attacks and offered to send salvage experts to help in the rescue effort. Armenian officials have called for coordinating international efforts to fight terrorism.
AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijani President Geidar Aliev denounced the attacks as ``the most monstrous event in modern history,'' ordered a nationwide mourning for its victims and offered his nation's help in tracking down the organizers of the attacks.
AUSTRIA: Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said his neutral country would allow the use of Austrian airspace and provide whatever support it can, but added that Austrian soldiers would not become involved in military action because that is banned by the constitution.
BELARUS: President Alexander Lukashenko, who had frequently lashed out at the United States, sent his condolences to the American people after the attacks. Belarus did not join Russia and other European nations in observing a moment of silence last week, and some officials said the terror attacks had been prompted by arrogant U.S. policies toward the rest of the world.
BELGIUM: organized an anti-terrorist sweep in the wake of the attacks, holding one person on charges of possible involvement in planning an attack on U.S. interests in Europe. As current president of the European Union, it has also hosted emergency meetings of foreign ministers and transport ministers to show its support for the United States.
BRITAIN: Britain urged its citizens to leave parts of Pakistan amid fears that U.S. retaliation might target neighboring Afghanistan. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has pledged British support for U.S. action against the terrorists, called Bush's handling of the attack and its aftermath ``absolutely right'' and praised the U.S. administration's consultations with allies.
BRUNEI: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, absolute ruler of the tiny, oil-rich enclave on Borneo island in southeast Asia, has expressed shock and sent a message of condolences to President Bush.
BULGARIA: Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski pledged support for an international campaign against terror. Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi said his country, which is applying for NATO membership, was ``ready to act as a (virtual) NATO ally'' in the campaign.
BURUNDI: President Pierre Buyoya expressed his condolences to all victims.
CHINA: President Jiang Zemin called President Bush a day after the attacks to express condolences and say that China wanted to collaborate with the United States on anti-terrorism activities. A deputy foreign minister said China wanted to be consulted before Washington or NATO countries took any military action outside their territories.
CROATIA: Supports United States action against terrorism. However, Prime Minister Ivica Racan expressed concerns Monday that the European Union may now seek to impose tougher measures on its borders to prevent entry of potential terrorists, isolating nonmembers including Croatia.
CYPRUS: President Glafcos Clerides expressed support for action against terrorists. The government protested formally to the United States that a claim by former NATO commander Wesley Clark that Cyprus sheltered terrorists ``is absolutely unfounded and violates truth and real facts.''
DENMARK: As NATO member, Denmark supports a joint action against terrorism. The government asked intelligence agencies to track down possible supporters in Denmark.
EGYPT: President Hosni Mubarak denounced the attacks as ``horrible and unimaginable'' Mubarak also repeated his call for holding an international conference for combatting terrorism. Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher reiterated Egypt's full cooperation with United States in the investigation.
ETHIOPIA: Offered condolences and condemned the attack.
FINLAND: Beefed up security at borders, airports and outside embassies and increased air surveillance.
FRANCE: Defense Minister Alain Richard said France was confident the United States would react ``responsibly'' to last week's terror attacks, but he cautioned against using force alone to retaliate.
GEORGIA: Officials said they were ready to offer any help to the United States in its efforts to track down and punish the culprits.
GERMANY: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder pledged to crack down on Islamic militant groups in Germany after three men who lived quietly in Hamburg were implicated in the terror attacks in the United States.
GREECE: Pledged full support to American and European Union actions to combat terrorism. Greece hosts a large U.S. Navy base on the island of Crete. Ministers and officials have also begun reevaluating security measures for the 2004 Olympics, to be held in Athens.
HUNGARY: Expressed full solidarity with the people of the United States and full support for the fight against terrorism. ``The essential thing is that the political readiness is there; we are supportive of the victims and will do our part in the struggle to eradicate terrorism,'' Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi said.
ICELAND: Foreign Minister Halldor Asgrimsson said the airport at Keflavik was available for any U.S. operations.
INDIA: Intelligence officials said they have given the United States information about Islamic extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including evidence describing how bin Laden and other Muslim militant leaders were financing guerrilla groups and running training camps.
INDONESIA: President Megawati Sukarnoputri condemned the U.S. attacks before she left Monday for the United States to meet President Bush and address the U.N. General Assembly. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation where some hardline Islamic groups are waging separatist conflicts that threaten the secular government.
IRAN: Iran, an opponent of Afghanistan's Taliban leaders, closed its 562-mile border to prevent Afghan refugees from crossing over in case of U.S. attacks. The U.S. State Department has said it would consider welcoming Iran into an international coalition to fight terrorism. Iran has not indicated that it would join.
IRAQ: Said attacks resulted from aggressive U.S. policies, and that Americans should feel and learn from the pain they have inflicted on other people, including Iraqis and Palestinians. Saddam Hussein urged United States to use wisdom, rather than force, in responding to attacks.
IRELAND: Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has said the United States would be justified in retaliating, so long as the military action fell within the United Nations' definition of self-defense. He said a large-scale attack on Afghanistan would be wrong: ``It's an easy thing to bomb territories where people are in famine. But that will not do much to crush international terrorism.''
ISRAEL: President Bush pressured Israel to hold truce talks with the Palestinians as America seeks to build an international anti-terror coalition that would include Arab countries. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon compared Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Osama bin Laden. Sharon said he would agree to peace talks with the Palestinians only after 48 hours of complete calm. Sharon also said Monday that Israel had been invited to join the anti-terror coalition.
ITALY: Has vowed an ``all-out battle against terrorist organizations,'' adding, ``we must concentrate our forces now in the Atlantic Alliance ... and the European Union.'' Italy's Supreme Defense Council - consisting of the country's president, prime minister and top cabinet ministers - convened for an emergency session on Friday for the first time since Libya fired missiles toward the Sicilian island of Lampedusa in 1986.
JAPAN: The Japanese government pledged to help the United States ``in whatever way we can.'' Japan's pacifist constitution prohibits it from engaging in offensive military action, but Tokyo has promised help with transport and medical operations. The government promised steps to keep its economy - the world's second largest - stable amid the global security crisis.
JORDAN: King Abdullah II, his government and leaders of opposition and Muslim groups had swiftly condemned the attacks. On Sunday, the Council of Religious Scholars, the religious authority in Jordan, issued a fatwa, or edict, saying it could not condone any party's effort to ``terrorize or attack any people on Earth'' and considered doing so ``a heinous crime.''
KAZAKSTAN: Kazakstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, has condemned the attacks and sent condolences to Washington. But officials have been nervous about possible U.S. strikes in Afghanistan, fearing they would destabilize the region and trigger a flow of refugees.
KENYA: President Daniel arap Moi offered condolences, but appealed for restraint. Security at Nairobi's main airport was tightened. Moi said Kenya would join the international fight against terrorism because of the U.S. Embassy bombing in 1998.
KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan, separated from Afghanistan by a thin swath of mountainous Tajikistan, expressed condolences to the United States and called for stronger action against international terrorism. Officials have made no commitments to assist the United States.
KUWAIT: Defense minister Sheik Mubarak Al Sabah pledged to work ``hand in hand'' with Washington to eliminate terrorism. Politically strong Muslim fundamentalist groups, which say they are not militant, also condemned the attacks but said the world should not forget the ``suffering of our Palestinian brothers from Jewish terrorism.''
LEBANON: Has condemned the attacks, from President Emile Lahoud down to leaders of political and religious groups. Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Wednesday he would support U.S. action against whoever is proven to be the perpetrators. The Hezbollah guerrilla group has expressed regret for the loss of life, but warned against ``taking advantage of the attacks to practice aggression and terrorism against those who committed aggression and terrorism.''
LIBYA: Leader Moammar Gadhafi condemned the attacks, called on Muslim aid agencies to offer support for the victims and said the United States had the right to take revenge, but asked ``will this put an end to the problem?'' ``There is nothing in Afghanistan,'' and if the United States occupies Afghanistan, ``it will not be in its interests.'' The international community has to ``determine the reasons'' why terrorism develops, he said.
LIECHTENSTEIN: As a sign of solidarity with the American people, the tiny European principality offered to send one or two pyschological counselors to the United States. The Banking Federation said it will discuss whether to set up a task force to investigate whether the country's financial institutions were used by anyone with terrorist links, but it says there is no evidence of this so far.
MADAGASCAR: Prime Minister Tantely Andrianarivo condemned the attacks, saying the people of Madagascar stand in solidarity with the American people and its government. Madagascar has sent extra police to help protect U.S. government buildings in the country.
MALAWI: President Bakili Muzuli, a Muslim, described the attacks as acts of ``barbarism'' and said they went against the teachings of Islam.
MALAYSIA: Security has been tightened at the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers, after a bomb scare. Officials promise to help investigate reports that one of the hijackers who crashed a plane into the Pentagon met a suspect in the USS Cole attack in Malaysia in October. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has warned tit-for-tat violence could cause more terror.
MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambique condemned the attack as a horrible crime and expressed solidarity with the United States. President Joaquim Chissano urged the United States to think first before reacting and to be responsible in its actions.
THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch police, together with the Belgians, pledged to step up a joint operation against suspected members of Muslim radical groups. Rotterdam police took four men into custody on Thursday. Prime Minister Wim Kok, while lending full support to the fight against terrorism, was one of the first to caution the U.S. administration to be mindful of ``democratic values.''
NEW ZEALAND: Has offered the use of Special Air Services commandos and New Zealand intelligence resources in any action against those responsible for the terrorist attacks.
NORTH KOREA: Issued a statement calling the attacks ``very regretful and tragic'' and denouncing terrorism.
NORWAY: Strongly condemned the attacks and backs its ally the United States through NATO.
OMAN: Oman's leader, Sultan Qaboos condemned the attacks and said his country would stand ``side by side'' with the United States to fight terrorism. A Foreign Ministry statement has said Oman is ready to cooperate in the U.S. effort, but did not say what type of cooperation it would offer.
PAKISTAN: Declared its ``full support'' for U.S. action against the Taliban, and is sending a high-level delegation to Kandahar on Monday to demand the Taliban hand over bin Laden to the United States or risk a massive retaliatory assault. Hard-line Muslims, who oppose Pakistani cooperation with the United States, demonstrated nationwide.
PORTUGAL: has pledged total cooperation with the US in all areas, including military support for a retaliation. Portugal next year takes over the rotating presidency of the 55-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and says the fight against international terrorism will be a priority policy.
QATAR: Foreign Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani said in a telephone call Friday with Secretary of State Colin Powell that Qatar condemned the attacks and is willing to cooperate in fighting terrorism. However, Qatar has not said whether it would join any specific anti-terrorism coalition.
RUSSIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a nationwide moment of silence for victims of the attacks, offered help in rescue efforts and called for a global effort to uproot international terrorism. At the same time, Russia, where one of every seven residents is Muslim, is unlikely to risk internal unrest by joining any U.S. retaliation. Russian officials have also made it clear that Moscow does not want former Soviet republics in Central Asia to be used as bases for such operations.
RWANDA: President Paul Kagame expressed ``deepest condolences'' to Americans, their leaders ``and the families who lost their loved ones, at this hour of profound national catastrophe.''
SAUDI ARABIA: Said it will cooperate fully with the United States on its investigation into the attacks. It has condemned the attacks, but said they are partly the result of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East.
SLOVAKIA: Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda has condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed its determination to support the United States and NATO in all actions against terrorism around the world.
SLOVENIA: President Milan Kucan, in a letter to the U.S. president, declared his country's support in the fight against terrorism.
SOMALIA: President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan expressed his condolences for the attack.
SOUTH AFRICA: President Thabo Mbeki offered humanitarian support to help the United States cope with the tragedy. ``The South African government calls on the international community to unite to defeat global terrorism,'' he said.
SOUTH KOREA: Observed a national day of mourning on Friday. South Korean President Kim Dae-jung said the two Koreas should issue a joint statement against terrorism in reconciliation talks now underway in Seoul. The North has not commented on the proposal.
SPAIN: Defense Minister Federico Trillo said U.S. forces could use Spanish military bases for any retaliation.
SUDAN: President Omar el Bashir's Islamic government has been treated as an international pariah for the last 10 years, but was quick to condemn the attacks on Washington and New York. A Foreign Ministry statement said Sudan ``rejects all kinds of violence.'' El-Bashir said the attacks showed that no nation, even the powerful United States, was completely secure.
SWEDEN: Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson canceled the so-called Progressive Summit of 14 center-left leaders that was to have been held in Stockholm on Sept. 14-15. The Swedish government has expressed concerns about a backlash against Muslims, meeting with Islamic leaders and stepping up security around Stockholm's mosque, which reported receiving threatening phone calls.
SWITZERLAND: Switzerland, which had already frozen all bank accounts linked to the Taliban, said one of the suspected hijackers bought two knives in Switzerland, using a credit card. No further details were given. One of bin Laden's many siblings, a half-brother who has distanced himself from the fundamentalist leader, has lived in Geneva since 1973.
TAIWAN: President Chen Shui-bian offered to ``provide any necessary assistance'' to the United States against terrorism. Chen ordered security to be stepped up at airports, ports and nuclear plants, and appointed a panel to study how the attacks would affect Taiwan's and the world's economy.
TAJIKISTAN: Ruled out the possibility of launching any Western-led reprisal attacks from its territory, which borders northern Afghanistan. Prime Minister Akil Akilov had indicated he might consider a U.S. request to provide air corridors, but only with approval from Russia and the international community.
TANZANIA: President Benjamin Mkapa condemned the ``heinous crime.'' The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, ``We sincerely hope that the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be tracked down, apprehended and brought to justice.'' Security at the American embassy was increased.
THAILAND: Agreed to help the United States ``just as we did in the past.'' During the 1990 Gulf War, Thailand was used by U.S. aircraft as a refueling stop. The government has pledged to exchange intelligence on terrorists and will support any United Nations resolution against terrorism.
TURKEY: Would allow the use of Incirlik Air Base for a possible military response. Incirlik hosts U.S. and British warplanes enforcing a no-fly zone over northern Iraq and was a launching pad for U.S. attacks on Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War.
TURKMENISTAN: Turkmenistan, which borders Afghanistan, has condemned the terror attacks and offered support to the United States against terrorism. However, President Saparmurat Niyazov has been noncommittal about any possible assistance to the United States for staging strikes on Afghanistan.
UGANDA: President Yoweri Museveni offered condolences and condemned the attack.
UKRAINE: Called for a coordinated international fight against terrorism. The parliament called the attacks on the United States a ``challenge to all of civilized humanity.''
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Condemned the attacks, offered to help the United States fight terrorism and launched an investigation to determine whether an Emirati national, Marwan Alshehhi, is the same man that German police have said is one of the 19 suspects in the attacks. Emirates President Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan warned in a letter to NATO ambassadors that without a solution to the Middle East conflict, terrorism cannot be eradicated.
UZBEKISTAN: Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov indicated in a Washington Post interview that his predominantly Muslim nation, which borders Afghanistan and has itself faced attacks by Islamic extremists allegedly linked with the Taliban, would consider allowing the United States to launch strikes on Afghanistan from its territory.
VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez said OPEC member Venezuela would do ``everything possible'' to guarantee steady oil supplies. He appealed to President Bush not to wage a ``World War III'' that could trigger global, even nuclear, conflict. Defense Minister Jose Vicente Rangel said Venezuela could cooperate in U.S.-led military action but won't promise ``carte blanche'' help in a war against Muslim nations, with which Venezuela maintains ties based on oil.
VIETNAM: President Tran Duc Luong sent a message to President Bush and the American people expressing shock at the attacks. ``Vietnam consistently rejects terrorist actions which cause loss of life and suffering to civilians,'' he said.
YEMEN: Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said his country rejects terrorism ``and Yemen will cooperate in fighting terrorism.'' Yemen has said it would be willing to join an international coalition to fight terrorism, but only under the umbrella of an international organization such as the United Nations.
YUGOSLAVIA: Leaders declared support for the global fight against terrorism. But with memories of the 1999 NATO air war against Yugoslavia still fresh, officials have not openly supported a possible U.S. campaign against suspected perpetrators.
ZAMBIA: President Frederick Chiluba promised his country's support in the fight against terrorism. ``We in Zambia promise to stand with the United States to fight international terrorism for preservation of Christian values and democracy,'' Chiluba said.
ZIMBABWE: President Robert Mugabe wrote to President Bush expressing horror at the attacks and his people's solidarity with America. The attacks appeared to be the work of ``the most remorseless and hardened enemies of the United States government and people, and indeed, of all the peace-loving people of the wider world,'' he wrote.