BRUSSELS – NATO and Russia united today in declaring that the perpetrators of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York and Washington shall not go unpunished.
A statement issued after a special meeting of the NATO-Russia permanent council in Brussels says NATO and Russia are “united in their resolve” to punish those responsible for what it called “inhumane acts.”
The statement says NATO and Russia will intensify their cooperation and called upon the entire international community to unite in the struggle against terrorism.
Today’s meeting follows a decision by NATO ambassadors to consider the attacks in New York and Washington as attacks on the entire alliance, if it is determined that the attacks were planned outside the alliance.
The alliance may automatically support — but not necessarily participate in — any U.S. military action against the perpetrators of the attacks.
Putin Speaks With Bush About Cooperation After Terrorist Attack
President Vladimir Putin on 12 September telephoned his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush to discuss expanding cooperation against terrorism, Russian and Western agencies reported.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow said that the attacks could lead to greater cooperation between Russia and the United states “in the fight against international terrorism.” Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that Russia believes there should be a G-8 summit on terrorism and a global system to counter terrorism. Vershbow said the U.S. will consider those proposals. PG
