U.S. ambassador to Ukraine hosts 9/11 commemorative concert in Kyiv (09/18/05)

U.S. ambassador to Ukraine hosts 9/11 commemorative concert in Kyiv

Embassy of the United States

KYIV - United States Ambassador to Ukraine John E. Herbst on September 11 hosted a memorial concert at the National Philharmonic in honor of all worldwide victims of terrorism.

The evening featured a performance by the Liatoshynsky Ensemble of Classical Music under the artistic direction of Valentyna Ikonnyk-Zakharchenko and conducted by Ihor Andriyevsky, and included several musical works written in honor of September 11, as well as a piece from Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Requiem."

Featured soloists included Myhailo Chaikin and Dmytro Tretiak (contrabass) and vocal soloists Oleh Chornoschokov, Vira Pototska, Hanna Labut and Olha Shvydka.

In his remarks to the audience of senior Ukrainian government officials, leaders of Ukraine's cultural, academic and business communities, and diplomatic colleagues, Ambassador Herbst thanked the people of Ukraine for their support in time of America's need after the attacks of September 11 and in the global struggle against terrorism.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Borys Tarasyuk and Acting Vice Minister of Culture and Arts Olha Kostenko also spoke at the event.

Following are excerpts of Ambassador Herbst's remarks.

* * *

...four years after that tragic day in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania that launched our current struggle against terrorism.

In the years since then, we have seen many other places have joined the list of those cities who have seen the evil of terrorism darken their skies - Madrid, London, Bali, Riyadh - but, at the same time, we have seen even more nations come together in common determination to build a safer world.

Although September 11 marks a sad date in American history, this is not an American commemoration. It is a recognition of the common struggle of all humanity against an extremism that embraces and even celebrates terrorism. To win this struggle all nations need to work together. This requires not just a military response but a growing understanding that terrorism has no justification.

In the years since September 11, Ukraine has always stood as a loyal ally in the fight against terrorism. We are heartened by your continued commitment to this cause, including troop contributions in Iraq and overflight rights for planes heading to Afghanistan and Iraq. Ukraine also makes valuable contributions to regional security through peacekeeping missions to war-torn regions elsewhere, such as the Balkans and sub-Saharan Africa.

At this point, I would like to ask you to join me now in a moment of silence in honor of all those individuals throughout the world who have lost their lives to terrorist acts.

Tonight we have with us representatives of many other nations who have shared our tears and our successes in these recent years. On behalf of the people of the United States, I want to thank you for your support. And we'd like to thank the people of Ukraine for their offers of assistance and expressions of concern in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. ...

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