Combating terrorism

It is such an honour to join all of you to mark the anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom.

Kristallnacht was not just the night of broken glass; it was the night of broken lives, broken families, broken societies, broken dreams.

And, as we know, that dreadful night of state-orchestrated terror was followed by days, months and years of incalculable horror, so tragically and movingly displayed here.

I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Council on cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in countering terrorist threats.
 

I am pleased to welcome you to the second International Day of Remembrance of -- and Tribute to -- the Victims of Terrorism.
 
The threat of terrorism and violent extremism is among our most complex challenges.
 
In recent months, we have witnessed horrific attacks in Kabul and Cairo, Nigeria and Burkina Faso and other locations around the Lake Chad Basin and around the world.
 
Many innocent lives have been tragically cut short.
 

Your Excellency, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
I thank the Government of Kenya for helping the United Nations organize this landmark conference.
 
To begin, I would like to honour the tens of thousands of African victims of terrorism and to express solidarity with African countries that have suffered terrorist attacks that shock with their barbarity and disregard for human life.
 
Kenya itself has endured numerous terrorist attacks. 
 

To fight terrorism and to prevent violent extremism are fundamental priorities for the African Union, for the [United Nations], for Africa and for the world.

I am pleased to join your launch of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.
 
I thank the Permanent Representatives of Afghanistan and Spain for their leadership and vision in establishing this group.
 
I am also pleased to see so many Member States here today from around the world.
 
Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains a global and transnational challenge.
 
Recent terrorist attacks in Kenya, Mali, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and elsewhere have claimed thousands of innocent lives.
 

I thank all involved for bringing us together to tackle the tsunami of hatred that is so visible and violent across the world today.
 
A special welcome to Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein from the Chabad of Poway synagogue in San Diego.  Rabbi, thank you for your inspiring actions since the shooting in April that took the life of one of your congregants and injured you as well.
 
Recently I viewed an exhibition at the Museum of Jewish Heritage here in New York that is called “Auschwitz.  Not long ago.  Not far away”.
 
It is an apt title.