STATEMENT
the International Union of Students (IUS)* on the Attacks on US World Trade Centre and Pentagon
Stop the bloodshed, start the dialogue!

We are shocked by the killing of several thousand people that were caused by the airplanes crashed into the Towers of the New York World Trade Centre and the US Pentagon. This horrible act of terror has to be condemned and the accountable parties brought to justice. Speculations mention the Arab region and Arabic politicians as likely initiators for this terrorist act. Whether this is true or not, it stimulates the climate in Western countries to see Arabs and Muslims as a thread to the respective societies. Additionally the Arab region is now becoming a likely target for counter attacks and a further escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians can be expected. This process has to be stopped. We therefore appeal on all sides involved to do everything possible to stop the bloodshed and to start the dialogue now. Therefore we have to promote the involvement of our member unions in international strategies to develop cultural understanding and mutual respect. We also like to strengthen the United Nations system to regain their role to establish platforms for intercultural communication that lead to peaceful conflict resolution. No other international governmental institution can fulfill this task. Too many people died today. Their deaths would be in vein if they would serve as an argument for another spiral in the circle of violence.

LOVE, PEACE & RESPECT
Ingo Jaeger
Outgoing Executive Secretariat of the International Union of Students
CENAC-Secretariat: Ingo Jaeger, Seidelstr. 6, 163 Hannover,
FR Germany
Tel./FAX: +49-511-394 2551
E-mail: i_jaeger[at]gmx[dot]de
URL: http://www.ingojaeger.de

* The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) is a member of the IUS. The Union also holds the Chairpersonship of the Constitutional Committee of the IUS.