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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for international security of the recent atrocities in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. [7171] Mr. Bradshaw: What happened on 11 September was an act without parallel in the history of terrorism. The fight against terrorism needs to be a global one. As the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on 4 October 2001, Official Report, columns 671-75, we have been in intensive contact with foreign leaders from every part of the world over the past few weeks. What we have encountered is an unprecedented level of solidarity and commitment to work together. We are continuing our intensive diplomatic effort to build a strong international coalition against terrorism. We are taking action in the UN, G8, EU and NATO. The Prime Minister also stated on 4 October that, in the face of the evidence, our immediate objectives are clear. We must bring bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders to justice and eliminate the terrorist threat they pose. And we must ensure that Afghanistan ceases to harbour and sustain international terrorism. But we also have to continue our attempts to resolve conflicts, defuse tensions and work for peace in other troubled regions of the world. The military action we are taking with the US is targeted against places we know to be involved in the operation of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban. The military plan has been put together mindful of our determination to avoid civilian casualties.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

7171; 372 c973-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Armed conflict EU countries International cooperation Military alliances Terrorism Security United Nations USA NATO

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk