PARIS (AP) -- World leaders are reacting to the deadliest
violence to strike France since World War II. Some of their comments:
WHITE HOUSE:
The White House says it has no information to contradict
the French government's assessment that the Islamic State carried out the Paris
attacks.
President Barack Obama reviewed the latest intelligence
with his national security team on Saturday before departing for a global
economic summit in Turkey.
The White House said afterward that Obama was briefed on
cooperation with the French on intelligence sharing and military action against
the Islamic State group.
Obama earlier called the attacks on Paris "outrageous
attempt to terrorize innocent civilians" and vowed to do whatever it takes
to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Obama called
the attacks a "heartbreaking situation" and an "attack on all of
humanity."
---
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi King Salman phoned French President Francois
Hollande to offer his condolences. The official Saudi Press Agency says the two
men agreed to enhance "coordination and cooperation to combat the scourge of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations which target security and
stability all over the world."
---
BOSNIA
Bosnia's government says terrorists attacked "our
civilization" and raised security measures in the country, particularly
around foreign embassies.
The leader of Bosnia's Muslims, Husein Kavazovic, says
the attacks were "a heavy moral downfall."
"We remember the support and solidarity of the
French people with us when we recently were experiencing fear and terror,"
Kavazovic said in a statement, referring to the 1992-95 Bosnian war.
He added that he hopes France will "adequately
respond to terrorism but also vehemently resist to the terrorists' intention to
incite anger and revenge toward Muslims and Muslim communities in Europe."
He addressed Muslims in Europe, saying "terrorists
do not represent our faith or our community and terrorism cannot be justified
morally, religiously or politically."
---
POLAND
Polish President Andrzej Duda condemned the
"barbaric attacks" that hit the "very heart of European
civilization" and promised assistance. "Vive la France!" he
wrote.
Acting Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz signed a condolence book
at the French Embassy in Warsaw, where residents brought flowers. Kopacz said
that speeding up the joint struggle against terrorism should be Europe's
priority and noted that sometimes the world is "helpless" in the face
of terrorism.
Incoming Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, who will be sworn
in Monday, signed in the condolence book at the French Consulate in Krakow, and
laid a wreath of white, red and blue flowers. "We feel solidarity with the
people of France. We are praying for Paris, we are praying for the
victims," she said.
Landmark buildings in Poland were illuminated with red,
white and blue lights.
---
PAKISTAN
Pakistan's Information Minister Pervez Rashid says the
deadly terrorist attacks in Paris are "an attack on mankind" and
Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In a
statement, he said Pakistan "can feel the pain and anguish of the people
of France" as his country has been a victim of terrorism.
Rashid said Pakistan is already cooperating with the
international community to eliminate terrorism and make the world a safer
place. The country's foreign ministry has also "strongly" condemned
the attacks and expressed condolences.
---
OECD SECRETARY-GENERAL
Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, condemned the "barbaric"
attacks in Paris and offered condolences to the people of France.
Speaking in Turkey before a G-20 summit, Gurria said:
"The OECD condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric terrorist attacks
perpetrated in Paris last night."
---
GERMAN CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to work closely
with the French government to help hunt for the culprits involved in the
attacks and their backers.
"This attack on freedom was aimed not just at Paris,
it targeted and it hits all of us. That is why we must all respond
together," said Merkel, dressed in black, her voice faltering.
"We, your German friends, feel very close to you. We
cry with you," she said. "We will lead this fight together with you
against those who did such unimaginable things to you."
She said she would be meeting with the relevant ministers
to discuss ongoing developments in France and address questions.
Gauck said while Germany mourns with France, the anger at
the murderers must become resolve to defend Europe.
"Europe's values and Europe's freedom have been
attacked by powerful enemies throughout history. Nevertheless, our Europe is a
fortress of democracy and human rights. Even the brutal attacks of Islamist
terrorists won't change this," Gauck said.
---
BRITAIN'S QUEEN
Queen Elizabeth II has sent French President Francois
Hollande "sincere condolences" to the people of France amid the
terror attack in the French capital.
The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh said they were
"deeply shocked and saddened" in a statement released by Buckingham
Palace.
The statement says the queen and Prince Philip "send
our most sincere condolences to you, the families of those who have died and
the French people."
---
TUNISIAN PRESIDENT
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi condemned the
"barbarous acts" in Paris as he arrived at the Elysee Palace for a
previously scheduled meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
Essebsi called on "all freedom-loving peoples to
coordinate their efforts against evil" and said "every country must
feel concerned."
---
SLOVAK PRESIDENT
Offering his condolences to the relatives and all French
people, Slovak President Andrej Kiska said he was shocked and also angry by the
attacks. "The terrorists again murdered people in Paris to spread fear and
hatred among us in Europe. To spread evil and chaos. After such a hard night,
Europe needs even more unity and needs to take a real action. Terrorism never
destroys democracy and freedom in Europe if we are able to defend our values:
altogether and resolutely."
---
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to the
United Kingdom, said he condemned "the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris
in the strongest terms."
"More than a hundred people lost their lives while
they were doing what they loved, or spending time with their loved ones,"
Modi said in a statement. "We feel the shock, pain and outrage of the
people of France. India stands firmly with the great people of France in
dealing with this tragedy. And we must stand together as humanity in combating
the major global threat of our times and to uphold our values and our way of
life."
---
NORDIC GOVERNMENTS, SWEDISH KING
Nordic governments have condemned the Paris attacks,
while ordinary citizens laid flowers and lit candles outside French embassies
across the region.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom talked about
the "horrible news," while her Danish counterpart, Kristian Jensen,
said "terrorists must be defeated. They cannot break democracies that
stand together."
Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said that "we
must not give space for fear and intolerance."
After laying flowers outside the French Embassy on
Saturday, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said that "the
perpetrators must be pursued and defeated. We will never give up."
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf said he was
"shocked," adding that "it is important that we stand together
against this unimaginable terrorism."
Denmark's government ordered flags on official buildings
lowered to half-staff Saturday as a sign of solidarity.
---
JAPANESE AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTERS
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is in Turkey
ahead of a G-20 meeting, observed a moment of silence together with his Turkish
counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, in honor of those killed in the Paris attacks.
The two leaders expressed solidarity with the French
people at the start of a Turkish-Japanese business forum in Istanbul.
Abe said: "We will stand against terrorism
regardless of its reasons. We will stand in solidarity with the international
community to prevent acts of terrorism."
Davutoglu said his country stood
"shoulder-to-shoulder" with both France and Lebanon, which suffered a
terrorist attack on Thursday.
---
CHINESE PRESIDENT
Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement addressed
to French President Francois Hollande expressing solidarity with the French
people and condolences for the victims of Friday's attack.
"At the sorrowful moment of the French people, I, on
behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and personally,
condemn in the strongest terms the barbaric acts," Xi said.
---
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull extended
Australia's deep sympathy to the people of France.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this
terrible time," Turnbull said in a statement from Berlin. "But our
solidarity is with them too. When the French people left the stadium after that
shocking attack, they were not cowed. They sang their national anthem proudly
and that is how all free people should respond to these assaults."
"In France, and Australia, all around the world, we
stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of France and with all free peoples
in the battle against terrorism," Turnbull added.
The Australian government said a 19-year-old Australian
woman had been injured in the attacks.
---
POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis said he was "moved and saddened"
by the attacks in Paris but confessed that "I don't understand these
things. They are difficult to understand, carried out by human beings."
The pope, speaking in a heavy and measured voice, made
the comments in a phone call broadcast on the Italian Bishop's Conference
TG2000 on Saturday.
Asked if there can be a religious justification for such
attacks, Francis responded: "Religious and human. This is not human."
Francis says he was "close to the much-beloved
people of France, I am close to the relatives of the victims and I pray for all
of them."
----
AFGHAN PRESIDENT
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in a tweet to French
President Francois Hollande: "I sympathize with you and your people;
Afghanistan stands with France with resolve to tackle terrorism as a common
enemy."
A statement from Ghani's office quoted him as saying:
"The brutal attacks in Paris prove that global terrorism does not recognize
borders."
"Afghan people have for many years been the victims
of terrorist attacks. They feel the pain of Parisians, and share the grief of
the victims' families," Ghani said. "The people of Afghanistan stand
with France on this terrible day. Terrorism is a serious threat to the entire
world and we are united in the struggle."
---
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a statement,
"Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with French President Francois
Hollande and with the people of France in our common battle against
terrorism."
---
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE
Secretary of State John Kerry is describing the attacks
in Paris as "heinous, evil" and "vile," calling them
"an assault on our common humanity."
Kerry says the U.S. embassy in Paris is "making
every effort to account for the welfare of American citizens in the city."
He says the U.S. stands ready "to provide whatever
support the French government may require."
---
UNITED NATIONS
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is condemning "the
despicable terrorist attacks" in Paris.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Ban "trusts
that the French authorities will do all in their power to bring the
perpetrators to justice quickly."
The U.N. Security Council also condemned "the
barbaric and cowardly terrorist attacks," and underlined the need to bring
the perpetrators of "these terrorist acts to justice."
---
JORDAN'S KING
King Abdullah II "expressed strong condemnation and
indignation at the cowardly terrorist act," and solidarity with the French
people, in a statement published by state news agency Petra.
---
IRANIAN PRESIDENT
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has sent a message to
French President Francois Hollande condemning the terror attacks in Paris that
killed over 120 people.
The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying
Saturday that Iran "itself has been a victim of the scourge of
terrorism" and the fight against terrorism must go on.
Rouhani also canceled visits to France and Italy, due in
a few days. France was one of the world powers involved in recent negotiations
with the Islamic Republic over its contested nuclear program.
Hossein Jaber Ansari, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, also
was quoted by IRNA as saying: "Those terrorist groups that committed the
Paris crimes do not believe in ethical principles and they are not loyal to any
type of divine religions - including Islam."
---
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
Prime Minister David Cameron says he is
"shocked" by the Paris attacks and violence.
Cameron said on Twitter: "Our thoughts and prayers
are with the French people. We will do whatever we can to help."
---
EGYPT'S PRESIDENT
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has condemned
the Paris attacks and is conveying condolences to the victims.
A statement from his office on Saturday called for
"concerted international efforts" to combat "the scourge of
terrorism, which aims to destabilize security and stability in various parts of
the world, without distinction."
---
PERSIAN GULF COUNTRIES
In the United Arab Emirates, the state-run WAM news
agency says President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a telegram to
French President Francois Hollande offering his condolences and pledging
support for France. WAM says Al Nahyan also supported doing "what it takes
to face terrorism and eliminate it."
The ruler of tiny Kuwait, emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al
Sabah, says in a statement that he offered his condolences, while stressing
that "these criminal acts of terrorism ... run counter to all teachings of
holy faith and humanitarian values."
In Saudi Arabia, the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted
a Foreign Ministry official denouncing Friday's attack.
---
CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei says China is
"deeply shocked" by the attacks and pledged solidarity with France in
combating terrorism.
"Terrorism is a common challenge facing humanity.
China resolutely supports France in maintaining its national security and
stability and in attacking terrorism," Hong said.
---
JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER
Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida says he is
"deeply shocked and outraged" by the news of the terrorist attacks in
Paris.
Kishida, speaking to reporters Saturday in Hiroshima,
said Japan stands by France, promising to cooperate in international fight
against terrorism.
"We strongly condemn the act of terrorism, which we
do not tolerate for any reason," he said, expressing condolences to the
victims and their families.
---
U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY
Defense Secretary Ash Carter is calling the attacks in
Paris "an assault on our common human dignity."
The Pentagon chief says "the United States stands
with the people of France and its vibrant, multicultural democracy."
He is praising France as a NATO ally and a leader of the
coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria.
---
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, "Our hearts and
thoughts and prayers go out to our French cousins in this dark and terrible
time."
He said Canada has offered "all of our help and
support to the government of France."
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