Messages of Condolence and Support From Representatives of Academies and Research Institutions in the Wake of Attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon
News Release
Last update September 13, 2001
"On behalf of myself, the secretary general and all staff members of Palestine Academy for Science and Technology, I would like to extend my deep sympathies and condolences to you and the entire American nation in these extremely difficult times. I must say we were all utterly shocked and dismayed at the terrible human loss incurred and the excruciating pain that ensues. May God ease your pain and grant you patience."
Dr. Fathi Arafat
President
Palestine Academy for Science and Technology
Dr. Imad Khatib
Secretary General
Palestine Academy for Science and Technology
"We are all terribly sorry to witness the mindless acts of terrorism in New York and Washington resulting in so much death and destruction. No words are enough to condemn such acts. Let us hope the civil society world over will work together, assert itself, and ensure that such things will never happen again in any part of the world. We share the grief of your countrymen and offer our sympathies."
Goverdhan Mehta
President
Indian National Science Academy
"I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to you and all your colleagues at the National Academy of Sciences. My thoughts and prayers go out to the relatives of those who perished in the tragic events that occurred on Tuesday September 11, 2001."
Abolhassan Vafai
President
Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of Sciences
"I write to you on behalf of the Royal Irish Academy, of our members, our staff and of the whole Irish academic community, to express our shock, horror and profound distress at the appalling events and tragic loss of life in the United States yesterday. What happened was a dreadful blow to us all and to the civilized values which we share and cherish. Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and to the American people; we join with you and share in your anxiety and grief."
David Spearman
President
Royal Irish Academy
"We at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences are shocked to learn from the news of what the terrorists have done to New York City and Washington, D.C. It is almost impossible to imagine that human beings are behind such cruelty. Please accept our sincere condolences and our sympathy. We hope that our colleagues at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering and National Institutes of Health and their families have not suffered. On behalf of our Academy and the entire Mongolian scientific community I want to say we are with you."
T.Galbaatar Ph.D.
Vice President
Mongolian Academy of Sciences
"I am deeply shocked and filled with grief over the terrible atrocity and losses brought on to your country and people, and by the nature of the attack, onto the free world at large. The unbelievable disregard of universal values, of human life and dignity, that shows in the ferocious plans behind this act, comes as a horrifying awareness to all of us, a threat to humanity and humankind. I am sure my colleagues and professional friends will join me in my expression of readiness, in the name of the International Social Science Council, to stand prepared for whatever support you may see in need from the social science world community.
"My heart and my thoughts are with the thousands who suffered so terribly and may suffer still."
Kurt Pawlik
President
International Social Science Council
Germany
"On behalf of all Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand, I express my deepest sympathy for the grievous losses suffered by U.S. citizens in this outrageous attack upon your country. To those of us who, through our work in national academies, stand for values of reason and enlightenment and who see ourselves as part of a global family, such a horrendous crime is particularly repugnant.
"All of us have been impressed by the courage and dedication of your rescue workers, and for the dignity and resilience which lies behind the determination to prevail against such monstrous evil.
"We who value democracy and freedom stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States at this time."
Paul Callaghan
Academy Council President
Royal Society of New Zealand
"On behalf of myself, the fellows and staff of the Royal Academy of Engineering, I would like to offer our condolences for the tragic events that have befallen the United States of America in particular, and civilisation in general, this week. Our thoughts are with you in these terrible times."
Sir Alec Broers
President
Royal Academy of Engineering in London
"I would like to let you know how shocked and heartbroken I am about the tragedy of the terrorist attacks that hit the United States of America at two of its most sensitive points and caused the loss of an unbelievable number of American lives and others. Our condolences go to those who have lost their dear ones."
"I wish to express my sympathy and my solidarity with your people and your country. America is my second home and my ties with you are those of an intense partnership, even of friendship, that has grown over the years of joint endeavor in promoting science for the good of humankind. Let us not be deterred by such brutal acts against our free world.
"I may add that I am very much impressed by the calm and composed reaction of those most directly hurt by these incidents. This is a sign of a very mature society. Let us hope and wish that this attitude will continue to prevail also on the political scene in the months to come."
Ewald Weibel
Emeritus Professor of Anatomy
University of Berne
Switzerland
"Shocked by the appalling news from New York and Washington D.C., I, in the name of the officers and of the members of the French Académie des Sciences, wish to tell you and the U.S. National Academies how sorry we are for your country and the victims. We Academies must fight together to increase comprehension between people and foster peace."
Hubert Curien
President
French Academy of Sciences
"In the face of a series of appalling terrorist attacks on the United States, I would like to convey , on behalf of the Max Planck Society and myself, our heartfelt condolences and our solidarity with the people of your nation. These assaults have been an especially grave shock to all our scientists who engage in the active and friendly exchange of knowledge and research findings with American colleagues. We are also grievously shaken by the individual human tragedies of fate, and all our sympathy is with the innocent victims and their relations."
Hurbert Markl
President
Max Planck Society
Germany
"In the name of the Turkish Academy of Sciences, I would like to extend to you our most heartfelt condolences for the immense human loss ensuing from the despicable attacks suffered on U.S. cities and institutions and their people, along with our strongest solidarity against all forms of terror."
Engin Bermek
President
Turkish Academy of Sciences
"The Chinese scientists and I are shocked at the chain of terrorist attacks that has hit the United States. This is a betrayal of conscience and a challenge to human civilization. At this time of great difficulties, I am extending…our heartfelt condolences to all the victims and their relatives, and our deepest sympathy to the American people.
"I believe that the American people will carry on through this difficult time with a calm and firm spirit. The Chinese and American scientists will forever work hand in hand for world peace, justice, conscience and human civilization."
Lu Yongxiang
President
Chinese Academy of Sciences
"Deeply upset by the immense tragedy that has happened to the United States, we would like to express our most sincere condolences to the American people.
"Together with your esteemed Academy, our Academy strives for freedom and progress of scientific ideas which promote peace and contribute to a prosperous future of mankind."
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
"On behalf of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and myself, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to you and the members of the National Academy of Sciences after the unbelievable tragedy caused by the brutal terrorist attacks to your country and its innocent citizens.
"Today no freeminded individual can stay indifferent to these events which we all experience like our own as they were aimed at the very essence of the democracy.
"We share your grief and the grief of your citizens in this difficult moments and we dedicate our prayers to the victims and their families."
Ivo Padovan
President
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
"The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is shocked and raised to indignation by the outrageous terrorist attacks on the United States, the oldest democracy in the world.
"Science is a dominating pillar in modern civilization and will be so in the future. A hallmark of science is its open and boundless nature. Openness and possibilities for insight also is an absolute requirement for functioning democracies."
Erling Norrby
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
"On behalf of our fellows and myself I would like to offer our deeply felt condolences for the tragedy that the brutal and horrifying attacks on New York and Washington D.C.
"The attacks took place in the United States but addressed the whole civilized world. If there is a role to play for the international engineering and technology community I sincerely hope that we all take this responsibility upon ourselves."
Kees Bulthuis
President
Netherlands Society of Technological Sciences and Engineering
"It is with great sorrow that I want to convey to you my sorrow, shared by all the members of this Advisory Council, of the terrible tragedy inflicted to the American society.
"Here we echo the words and emotions conveyed by our President Vincente Fox to President George Bush, to the Congress and to the American people for the grief caused by the tragic attack on the United States on September 11.
"This abominable attack affects all of us. It hurts the people that value the human right to life, that cherish peace among peoples, that look for the path of moral principles, that are concerned by human suffering. We are committed with the search for truth with the hope that the advancement of knowledge will lead to a better life and to a caring international society. We hope knowledge will contribute to widen tolerance among people in all countries of the world.
"We want to express our solidarity with the American people in this dark episode, and very particularly with the scientific and technological communities. We offer support and collaboration to help to build the foundations for a better future, devoid of acts of terror like the one you have suffered."
Pablo Rudomin
Consejo Consul De Ciencias
Mexico
"I am writing to you on behalf of the Polish scientific community to offer our profound sympathies to the American nation, which now has to cope with these unfolding tragedies.
"We share the opinions of politicians, expressed repeatedly throughout the world, that America must not feel alone in this tragic situation. The international democratic community must join efforts as never before to eradicate the evil of mass terrorism completely."
Mirosaw Mossakowski
President
Polish Academy of Sciences
"On behalf of the Hungarian scientific community, the Presidium and members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and personally ourselves please accept our deepest condolences and sympathy in your tragic loss and national tragedy yesterday. We are all stunned and deeply shocked at what unthinkable wickedness can be nurtured and put into practice by extreme and fatalistic views. Our hearts are with all Americans who died or lost someone they loved, all who got injured and all who are rescuing their fellow men. We firmly believe that the time has come when all civilised nations and countries must do their best to work and act together in order to be able to erase terrorism from the face of the Earth."
Ferenc Glatz
President
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Norbert Kroo
Secretary General
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
"I was deeply shocked by the news about the disastrous attacks against the United States in New York, Washington D.C. and other areas. I am very much concerned about the safety of my American friends and their families of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control. On behalf of the Chinese Scientists Group on Arms Control, I express my deepest sympathy for the tragedy that happened in the United States yesterday. I strongly condemn any kind of terrorism."
Hu Side
Chair
Chinese Scientists Group on Arms Control
"On behalf of the Latin American Academy of Sciences, I would like to convey our firm solidarity to you and your colleagues at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in these trying times."
Hugo Aréchiga
President
Latin American Academy of Sciences
Mexico
"The European Academy of Sciences and Arts is deeply shocked and grieved about the tragic events in New York City and Washington, D.C.
"The Academy with its 1200 members wishes to express its sympathies and condolences. We live in a time of absolute solidarity of the sensible people; people of good will; and cannot tolerate the jeopardizing of our freedom through terror and the tolerance being trampled on.
"On behalf of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, let me assure our friends and the American nation of our deepest sympathies."
Felix Unger
President
European Academy of Sciences and Arts
"I want to tell you how much I think of you and the American people during these difficult days. All French people are close to the American people in this occasion and I want to send you all my best."
Francois Jacob
Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology and Medicine
Louis Pasteur Institute
France
"We have been deeply shocked by the cowardly attack from the darkness, and we are mourning with you and your country over the many individual victims of this horrible tragedy.
"All the more we are convinced that our common values will prevail even against such unimaginable violence and hatred."
Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker
President
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Germany
"On behalf of the Council of the Presidents of the International Academy of Engineering, of the Praesidium of the Russian Academy of Engineering, of all the members of both Academies and in our personal names we beg you to accept our deepest and sincere condolences in the connection with the horrible tragedy which affected the people of the United States and which we conceived, like the peoples of all over the world, with the deep pain and sorrow.
"We deplore together with you the thousands of victims of the mean, coward and bloodthirsty terrorists, who have shown a defiance to the whole world community."
B. Gusev
President
International and the Russian Academies of Engineering
V. Homeriky
Vice-president, Main Scientific Secretary
International and the Russian Academies of Engineering
"Our thoughts are with you all. We are in shock and total disbelief. I was on the metro today at noon, when it stopped for three minutes. Everybody stood in silence and sent all their thoughts to those who have lost their loved ones and to the American people.
"For international detente and cross-cultural understanding, this is a very serious blow. However, I still strongly believe in the power of scientific and intellectual exchange. The International Council for Science rule about free circulation of scientists was powerful during the cold war and apartheid years."
Thomas Rosswall
Director
International Foundation for Science
Sweden
"On behalf of the members of the Romanian Academy and myself, I would like to express our deep and sincere regrets for the incredibly tragic events that has affected the American people . . . We definitely condemn such criminal terrorist actions and stand beside the American people in their undeserved tragedy. Please accept our condolences and compassion for the affected families."
Eugen Simion
President
Romanian Academy
"The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the entire scientific community in this country are utterly disheartened and outraged at the wanton destructive cruelty inflicted by the terrorist attack on your conuntry in which we have so many close friends and colleagues and which has been consistently helpful to our country.
"In this time of your national grief and ordeal not only for your country but for the whole world, please accept this manifestation of our deepest sympathy and compassion for the thousands of innocent victims of this outrageous treachery. I would like to assure you that we here in our country and at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic stand firmly at your side and are ready to assist you to the extent of our ability."
Helena Illnerova
President
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
"The Chinese Academy of Engineering was shocked by the depraved, monstrous terrorist assault upon the people of New York and Washington, D.C., causing huge loss to human lives on 11 September. All members of CAE express their strongest condemnation on this evil act against the innocent people of the United States.
"At this moment of anger, pain and grief, CAE would like to express its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims. CAE also pledges its unreserved support to U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the American engineering communities in their efforts to redress the wound and in their fight against future terrorist activities."
Jian Song
President
Chinese Academy of Engineering
"We were shocked when hearing of the barbarous terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. Please accept our sympathy for the casualty and losses suffered by the American people. In the battle against terrorism, the Chinese people and scientists are with you."
Zhou Guangzhao
President
Chinese Association for Science and Technology
"On behalf of the members of our Caribbean Academy of Sciences I wish to express our shock and horror of the tragic event befalling your country. We share in the grief of the American people."
Harold Ramkissoon
Foreign Secretary and Immediate Past President
Caribbean Academy of Sciences
Trinidad, West Indies
"On behalf of the International Union Against Cancer secretary general and president, I would like to express our sympathy and condolences on the tragic and barbaric events that befell your country. No words can adequately express our horror at the hatred and fanaticism at the origin of these acts.
"We are with you in thought and in prayer."
Isabel Mortara
Executive Director
International Union Against Cancer
Switzerland
"Yesterday we all were very much shocked by the horrifying pictures of New York and Washington, D.C. In disbelief of what happened, this catastrophe goes beyond any imagination. At the time the first news came in . . . we did not believe that the message could be true. However, it just appeared to be the beginning of the terrorist's attack, and the day changed into one of the real black days of history.
"On behalf of the International Union of Crystallography I want to express our sympathy in these difficult days with the American people and in particular with all our colleagues in crystallography and their relatives."
Prof. Dr. H. Schenk
President
International Union of Crystallography
The Netherlands
"Please, accept our deepest condolences in connection with these barbaric terrorist attacks and numerous deaths of innocent people. It is the largest threat to peace in the world since World War II. We all received a dramatic lesson for our future, and it confirms that we all should collaborate tightly to prevent terrorism."
Sergey V. Netesov
Deputy Director (Research)
State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector
Russian Federation
"The president and governing board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and the staff at the IFLAHQ, wish to express our deepest sorrow to our members and friends in the United States for the lives lost in the terrible tragedies in New York, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. We have all been watching and reading about the events with horror and anxiety for your welfare. We are unable to find adequate words to express our sadness, but we wish you to be assured that our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you all. That we were with you so recently, experiencing your wonderful hospitality, makes it all the more poignant."
Ross Shimmon
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
The Netherlands
"On behalf of the South African International Council for Science Secretariat we wish to express our condolences to the American nation."
Masela Pillay
South Africa International Council for Science Secretariat
International Science Liaison
National Research Foundation
South Africa
"The National Library of South Africa wishes to express our deepest sympathies to all our American colleagues and the United States as a nation in this time of tragedy and loss. We feel for you and grieve with you."
Hester van der Walt
AFLIB-L Administrator
National Library of South Africa
South Africa
"My colleagues here at Vector and I were deeply shocked by yesterday's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. These inhuman, barbarous acts are a horrible crime against humanity and we with all our hearts are on your side, on the side of the American people who are now fighting against the aftermath of those attacks that represent an impertinent challenge to the whole civilized world.
"In this moment of grieving, please accept our condolences and sympathy for those who have suffered from the attacks and their families."
Prof. Lev S. Sandakhchiev
Director General
State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology
Russian Federation
"There are no words to express all my condolences and regrets for the yesterday's tragedy. You may be aware that my colleagues and me share your pain. I hope you and your families are safe."
Dr. Leonid Gokhberg
Deputy Director
Centre for Science Research and Statistics
Russian Federation
"There are no words to express our condolences to you, and this short note is just to let you know that all of us here grieve about the tragedy together with you. This disaster has already changed the globe forever, each continent, country, city, town, and village in all remote places. The world will never become the same as it was yesterday.
"Your president said last night that the nation will pass the test. We are sure that you will, but you will be different. And we will be different."
Tatiana Nikolenko
International Science and Technology Center
Russian Federation
"I am shocked and I deeply grieve over the tragic events of September 11. Please accept my most sincere condolences.
"I am awfully indignant about the mad impudence and inhumanity of international terrorism. In this hard time as in the years of World War II we are allies in the struggle against our common enemy."
Zhores Alferov
Vice President
Russian Academy of Sciences.
"We are all in deep shock by this monstrous and unbelievable day and outraged by the slaughter of innocent people in this way."
"Our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost friends and relatives and with the whole American people in this hour of traumatic shock."
Ismail Serageldin
Director
Library of Alexandria
Egypt
"As a foreign associate of our Academy I feel very much concerned with the tragedy, that hit your country yesterday. I want to express to you and to our American colleagues my sincere condolences and my heartfelt sympathy to the victims of this inhuman act. I pray the Lord that He may bring the human race to better understanding of each other and restore peace in this century, which has so badly started."
Jacques Peters
Catholic University of Louvain
Belgium
"News of the unprecedented tragic incidents that occurred in your country just reached us. There are no words to properly express the sorrow and sympathy we feel for all of you now. Please accept our heartfelt condolence and convey our deepest sympathy to you and your associates."
Takeshi Nagano
President
Engineering Academy of Japan
"We are really shocked by the terrible tragedy and unbelievably inhuman and base action against the American people and the whole civilized world. We are with you in these hard days and share your disaster."
Dr. Akaki Peikrishvili
Tbilisi (Georgia) Office of the Science and Technology Center for Ukraine
"I write to express my great regret about the catastrophes in your country that shocked the whole world. I am so sorry about the innocent victims and, as everyone, consider it a terrible and unbelievable act."
Ella Konnova
Institute of Microbiology of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
"I am shocked by the terrible terrorist act in New York and Washington, D.C. I hope that you and your family and friends have not suffered."
Guram Adamashvili
Scientist and Member of Parliament