The President Spanish

As this is the first meeting of the Security Council for the month of September, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Andrey I. Denisov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, for his service as President of the Security Council for the month of August 2004. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing our deep appreciation to Ambassador Denisov for the great diplomatic skill with which he conducted the Council's business last month.

The President Spanish

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council:

"The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist act involving the taking of hostages at a secondary school in the town of Beslan, the Russian Federation, on 1 September 2004, as well as other terrorist attacks committed recently against innocent civilians in Moscow and on two Russian airliners, in which many lives were claimed and people injured.

"The Security Council demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of the terrorist attack.

"The Security Council expresses the deepest sympathy and condolences to the people and the Government of the Russian Federation and to the victims of the terrorist acts and their families.

"The Security Council urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under resolution 1373 (2001), to cooperate actively with the Russian authorities in their efforts to find and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist acts.

"The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

"The Security Council expresses its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations."

This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2004/31.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.