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Victims of 11 September 2001 Terrorist Attacks Remembered

Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, which took place in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania on 11 September 2001, was commemorated at a special ceremony at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) on 12 September 2011.

During his address at the ceremony, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano expressed his profound sympathy for the people of the United States over the dreadful attacks 10 years ago and spoke about the Agency's activities to ensure global nuclear security in the post 9/11 world.

"The IAEA, as the leading international organization in the nuclear field, has steadily expanded its nuclear security programme. Nuclear security is primarily a national responsibility, but we help countries to put in place effective nuclear security programmes. Our work includes helping to ensure the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities, providing training and equipment for border guards and other law enforcement agencies to help them detect nuclear and radioactive materials, [and] helping with nuclear security at major public events, such as the Olympic Games or the World Cup," he said.

He also noted that the Agency facilitates information-sharing among governments through the Illicit Trafficking Database programme, in which 113 countries participate.

As the IAEA works to protect the world against the risk of nuclear terrorism, Mr. Amano renewed his pledge that nuclear security will remain a high priority throughout his tenure as Director General.

Monday's ceremony was held to remember all victims of terrorism, including the more than 2 800 people from over 70 countries who died in the attacks on 11 September 2001.

Other speakers included Yury Fedotov, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization; and Ambassador Glyn Davies, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations in Vienna.

Last update: 27 Jul 2017

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