Minnemarkering ti år etter 11. september

Ambassador White, excellencies, distinguished members of the Storting, pastor Stewart, ladies and gentlemen, dear youth and children,

 

I am grateful for the invitation to take part in this commemoration a decade after the horrendous attacks on September 11th 2001 - attacks of a magnitude and evil that sent shockwaves throughout the world and deeply touched us.

Looking back, the images and the horror of that day is as clear in our minds and hearts as it was on that very day. We are here today never to forget, and to first and foremost remember lives lost and those suffering from personal losses by these gruesome and senseless acts of terror perpetrated ten years ago.

As a Norwegian I believe that with the horrendous deeds committed in this country on the 22nd of July, we feel and understand more profoundly the pain and horror felt in the United States. Senseless mass violence may happen anywhere. Senseless mass violence and terror represent abominable attacks on the values that unite us: human rights, democracy, tolerance and dignity for all - for all regardless of race, colour, sex or religion.

The attacks on September 11th brought forth a warm wave of sympathy with the United States in Norway and all over the world.

The fence to the Palace Grounds, running along Henrik Ibsen’s gate opposite the Embassy of the United States, quickly became covered with flowers, wreath, poems, hand written notes, candles and other momento.

It was a spontaneous heartfelt outpouring of empathy and sympathy. Young and old, families with their children, walked quietly along the wall of flowers, stopping to read and searching for answers to the inexplicable horror.

11th of September brought out and bear witness to the strong and deep bonds that exist between the people of Norway and the people of the United States - deep bonds reflecting our long and shared history and the values that unite us.

As human beings, we tend to remember exactly where we were and what we were doing, at earth shattering moments.

September 11th was such a moment. It was a cloudless and beautiful morning on the US East Coast, with the clear, crisp air that carries the first signs of autumn.

I remember, as if it were today, that afternoon in Oslo. I was at work in the office of the Prime Minister, on the 15th floor of the government building. That very building that has now been struck, by another act of utterly inhuman and senseless terror.

Terror targets the innocent.

It spreads fear.

Terrorism represents grave violations of human rights and international law.

Terror is an affront to the very core of humanity.

Terror has no justification. It can never and under no circumstances be tolerated.

But terrorism also units people against the forces of death and distruction.

Terrorism is and will be pushed back through a broad range of policies and measures. We owe it to the victims of terror and we owe it to future generations to continue these efforts with renewed dedication and resolve. Preventing terrorism is ultimately protecting the very values that underpin our societies.

 It is in this spirit that I close with a quote from the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

“Disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.”

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