Text: G8 statement (On London Terrorist Attacks)

International Herald Tribune ^ | July 7, 2005

[RWR8189]

Following is the text of the Group of 8's statement, read by Prime Minister Tony Blair at Gleneagles, Scotland, as reported by Agence France-Presse.

This is a statement on behalf of the G-8 leaders, but also the leaders of the five countries who have joined us at this summit, and this is our joint and united statement.

We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. We send our profound condolences to the victims and their families.

All of our countries have suffered from the impact of terrorism. Those responsible have no respect for human life.

We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilized people everywhere.

We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values. Nor will we allow it to stop the work of this summit. We will continue our deliberations in the interests of a better world.

Here at this summit, the world's leaders are striving to combat world poverty and save and improve human life. The perpetrators of today's attacks are intent on destroying human life. The terrorists will not succeed.

Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to uphold the most deeply held principles of our societies and to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us.

We shall prevail and they shall not.

[beethovenfan]

More appropriate response:

"We have a 10 megaton hydrogen warhead on which is inscribed
'MECCA'. One more such outrage against innocent civilians and
we will obliterate your "holiest" site. Ground zero will be
that stupid black rock you all parade around. Wanna play?

[kingu]

Once again Europe has a moment with which to invoke the mutual defense treaties that all of them have signed. It is time for Germany and France to get off the sidelines. It is time for Europe to treat this as a real war, against real enemies.

And Chriac should be at the forefront of all of this; anything less ensures that they'll never get this insane dream of his of a unified Europe off the ground. Because if you can't count on your neighbors to help out in an emergency, you can't count on them at any point.

An attack on one is an attack upon all, the statement implies. Let us see if Europe is anything more than the empty shell it appears to be.