Today's Date:

My dear compatriots,

On 11 September, the United States was hit. 6,000 innocent people lost their lives. It is monstrous. We have to realize that these terrorist attacks concern us all. Every democracy is threatened. France immediately announced her solidarity. She said that she would wage with the United States this battle which all those who love freedom must determinedly join.

The Taliban regime's refusal to hand over bin Laden and those responsible for the attacks has today led the United States and her allies to launch operations in Afghanistan. The United Nations Security Council recognizes this action's legitimacy.

The Afghan people, who have suffered so much for twenty years and are today the victims of a barbaric regime, are not, of course, implicated. And everything must be done to respond to the humanitarian tragedy they are enduring. Everything will be done to help them and to promote Afghanistan's development in the future. The military operations will take place over a long period. Their aim will be to punish the guilty and to destroy in Afghanistan the infrastructure of the terrorist networks and those supporting them.

Our forces will take part in them. At this point, French ships are involved in this operation. In the past few days, the United States has made us further requests for military participation. We shall play our part in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility. That's what I told President Bush who called me this afternoon before the start of the operations.

Let me add that the fight against terrorism is a complex and merciless battle being waged on many fronts. Over and above the military action aimed at destroying its bases, its networks must be attacked through greater international cooperation in the intelligence, justice, police and financial spheres. This battle has begun.

In these circumstances, the French are united, you are united, I know. In the action I am conducting with the government, I know I can count on your support. Not so long ago, we suffered the horror of terrorism in the flesh. We know that we must never give in to blackmail or fear. To do so would cost us our freedom and dignity./.