Theinternational reactions to theBeslan school siege was as follows:
United Nations -Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan further condemned the attack as a"brutal and senseless slaughter of children" and"terrorism, pure and simple".[1]UN Security Council – The UN Security Council in a Presidential Statement condemned the attack in the strongest terms and urged states actively to cooperate with the Russian authorities in efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.[2]
European Union –Romano Prodi on behalf of theEuropean Commission responded by calling the attack a:"Killing of these innocent people is an evil, despicable act of barbarism."[3]Dutch Foreign MinisterBen Bot stated on behalf of theEuropean Union that"We have been confronted with a deep human tragedy [...] Beslan shows once again that we have to do everything in our power to confront terrorism."[4]
UNESCO - Director-GeneralKoichiro Matsuura of UNESCO concluded that“I am appalled that a school and its pupils are being used for political ends" and further that“Schools are where children learn to live together. The safety of schools must never be threatened. I condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms."[5]At least the following countries has expressed their concern:
Canada -Paul Martin voiced his support for Russia's anti-terrorism operations.[6] During a 2004summit with Russian authorities in Moscow, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that he "strongly condemns [...] the brutal terrorist assault on Beslan's innocent children," expressing condolence to the families of the victims.[7]
Denmark - Danish prime ministerAnders Fogh Rasmussen said that no aim or situation could justify taking children hostage.[citation needed]
France - TheFrench Foreign Ministry, in a statement concluded that"Everyone must mobilize in the fight against terrorism."[4]
Germany -German chancellorGerhard Schröder stated"This is a new dimension of terrorism" and German foreign ministerJoschka Fischer said that"There are no reasons imaginable that could justify taking children, toddlers, babies and their mothers hostages."[4]
Israel - TheIsraeli government offered help in rehabilitating freed hostages. Immediately after, an experienced Israeli trauma team was sent to Beslan and later Russian psychologists working with the victims of the massacre received help on training by Israeli experts in Israel.[citation needed]
Italy - The Italian prime ministerSilvio Berlusconi responded saying ""The international community has to unite against terrorism that denies common human values to all the world's civilizations [...] There is no reason that could justify such inhuman violence."[4]
Jordan - Government spokesmanAsma Khader"condemns such acts, especially the kidnapping of civilians and to scare them in such a heinous way, even more, when most are children" saying"no cause can be achieved by such criminal means."[4][8]
Lebanon - Lebanese presidentÉmile Lahoud said inBeirut"denounces all forms of terror, especially that which threatens the lives of children and innocents."[4][8]
Pakistan —Pakistan condemns brutal crimes committed by terrorists in Beslan. In separate messages directed toRussian presidentVladimir Putin and theRussian premierMikhail Fradkov,Pakistani presidentPervez Musharraf and thePakistani prime ministerShaukat Aziz expressed their confidence that those responsible for this despicable act of terrorism would be brought to justice soon. A message relayed toRussian president, Pakistani president and prime minister expressed "their heartfelt condolences on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and on their own behalf to the government, the people of Russia and to the bereaved families".[9]
South Africa -Nelson Mandela called the attack an"inhumane and barbaric act of terrorism”, saying that"in no way can the victimisation and killing of innocent children be justified in any circumstances, and especially not for political reasons."[10]
United States -President Bush of the United States in a speech to theUN General Assembly said of the terrorists at Beslan that they:"measure their success - in the death of the innocent, and in the pain of grieving families."[11] And further in a later speech called it"the terrorist massacre of schoolchildren in Beslan."[12]
Sweden -Prime Minister of SwedenGöran Persson commented that "The evil deed of targeting children makes the world understand what times we are living in, how vulnerable our communities are and what types of crimes and terror we have to deal with."[4]
Holy See - At theVatican City,Pope John Paul II condemned the attack as a"vile and ruthless aggression on defenceless children and families."[13]
Egypt - Grand ShaikhMuhammad Sayyid Tantawy,Egypt's top cleric asked:"What is the guilt of those children? Why should they be responsible for your conflict with the government? You are taking Islam as a cover and it is a deceptive cover; those who carry out the kidnappings are criminals, not Muslims."[8][14]