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Current Affairs The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has emphasised that “no people, no region and no religion should be condemned because of the unspeakable acts of a few individuals”. He made
this observation in a Following are the texts of the letters of Mr. Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq and Mr. Kofi Annan: Letter of Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq Secretary General, World Muslim Congress, dated 17-09-2001, to Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary General, United Nations. “While we condemn the strongest words, the despicable attacks on buildings in New York and Washington, we are also alarmed that the impending strikes on the innocent men, women and children in Afghanistan who have already suffered much during the past twenty-two years despite the fact that they have no say in the policy making in the war-ravaged country. “I appeal to Your Excellency to intervene to avert another catastrophe as a result of military intervention by the United States.” Reply of Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations to Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq dated: 20-09-2001. “I would like to thank you for your letter of 17 September 2001, in which you strongly condemned the barbaric attacks in the United States of 11 September. I cannot overstate the importance of Muslims with prominent positions, such as you, speaking out against these horrific acts. It is vital that the global scourge of terrorism is met by a united response from all nations. Moreover, our response must not bring about new divisions within or between nations. As I have repeatedly made clear in recent speeches and interviews, no people, no region and no religion should be condemned because of the unspeakable acts of a few individuals. “I was also grateful for your expression of concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. I have said from the outset that cool and reasoned judgement must prevail in determining the appropriate international response. The United Nations Security Council has called for States to work together to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks, and to hold accountable those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring them. “Our task now is to build as broad as possible a coalition of States united against terrorism, and to ensure that our collective response, in all its forms, accords with the Charter of the United Nations, the decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, and the wider framework of international law.” |
letter to Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Secretary General of the World
Muslim Congress (Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami) in reply to his letter condemning
the terrorist attacks of 11th September. The UN Secretary General said:
“It is vital that the global scourge of terrorism is met by a united
response from all nations….. our response must not bring about
new divisions within or between nations.”