US Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty organized a memorial ceremony at his residence in Kathmandu Monday to mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States.

US ambassador James F Moriarty (File photo)
A press statement issued by the American Centre in Kathmandu said, representatives from the Government of Nepal, diplomatic community, and other invited guests were present on the occasion.

Nearly 3,000 people from more than 90 different countries perished in the 9/11 attacks, the Ambassador noted.

“The fight against terrorism is a concerted fight for values and principles that are universal,” he said.

Speaking at the same programme, Dr. Sangita Rayamajhi, associate professor of English at Tribhuvan University and president of the Fulbright Alumni Association Nepal, said, “The countries of Asia have experienced the pains caused by terrorist attacks. But the greatest antidote to the pain of terrorism is greater democracy and respect of human rights and people’s liberties and respect to each other’s faiths,” she said.

Earlier on Sunday, Ambassador Moriarty laid a wreath honoring victims of terrorism at the 9/11 Peace Grove in Sathikel.

According to press statement of the American Centre, the Peace Grove, maintained by the Sathikel Women’s Group, was inaugurated in 2002 on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Members of the diplomatic and Nepali communities planted 100 trees to honor the nearly 3,000 people murdered on 9/11 during the inaugural of the Peace Grove. In 2004, 12 more trees were planted in memory of the 12 Nepalis killed in Iraq in August of that year.

“The 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks is an appropriate occasion for us to reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of all acts of terror,” the statement quoted Ambassador Moriarty as saying,

“The Ambassador placed a wreath in memory of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, which included citizens of more than 90 nations, as well as in memory of all the people from many different countries and faiths who have been killed by terrorists,” the statement added. n