PRESS RELEASES
Remarks by Ambassador Feltman
Memorial for Victims of the Baaklini Building
U.S. Embassy
Monday, September 20, 2004
20 September 2004
The first time I drove on to the Embassy Compound, one month ago,
I immediately took in the beautiful view across a darkened Mediterranean
Sea ringed by twinkling lights and out to Beirut, a city with which
the United States shares so much history. But my eyes also came
back to the skeleton of a building-the Baaklini Building-near where
we stand today. Today we remember the nine U.S. Embassy employees-Lebanese
and Americans-who lost their lives there 20 years ago today.
During the four weeks I have been in Beirut, I am struck by the
closeness of the Lebanese staff, throughout the Embassy. You've
explained to me-when I marvel at the strength of your ties-of all
you have been through together. You've reminded me that every person
who works at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut has been touched by the
tragic civil war that tore apart a country you all love deeply.
Our Embassy family includes staff that lived through one or more
of the violent attacks on our facilities. It includes husbands,
wives, children, nephews and nieces, of Embassy employees who perished
during the violent years of the war in Lebanon, victims because
they chose to work for the American Government.
It is important that we remember them: that we honor their work
and appreciate their sacrifice.
Fouad Abdou
Kassem Ayache
Edward Maalouf
Walid Minkara
Jad Nasr
Ali-Fayez Tayyar
Nelly Saoud
Michael Wagner
Kenneth Welch
were colleagues with whom you worked, on whom you depended and
with whom you shared stories and laughter even as you lived through
great hardship.
When terrorists loaded a car with explosives in front of the Baaklini
building on September 20, 1984, you lost colleagues, friends and
relatives. A building-that was a refuge for Embassy employees after
terrorists had attacked the U.S. Embassy on April 18, 1983 and our
U.S. Marine Barracks six months later-became another target.
Today we remember these colleagues and give appreciation for the
tremendous sacrifice they made for serving the Embassy of the United
States of America.
Three years ago, on September 11, Americans experienced first-hand,
on their own soil, the cruel hand of terrorism. They understand
now-what you have known through tragic experience-that terrorism
does not discriminate among race, religion, or national origin.
As Secretary Powell said recently in a speech at Georgetown University,
"Terrorism threatens civilization itself because it assaults
the most precious of all civilized principles: the sanctity of human
life."
The scourge of terrorism must be eliminated; senseless acts of
violence to promote political ends must cease. The U.S. Government
is committed to doing everything possible to put an end to this
threat. My work as the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon will ensure that
this goal remains in the forefront of our efforts.
During this moment of reflection, in front of this beautiful memorial,
whose flowers and plants symbolize regeneration and the continuity
of life, let us all rededicate ourselves to eliminating conflict
and hate, poverty and despair-and work instead to build bridges
between peoples and to forge relationships built on tolerance, mutual
respect and shared objectives.
Names of the victims:
Fouad Abdou
Kassem Ayache
Edward Maalouf
Walid Minkara
Jad Nasr
Ali-Fayez Tayyar
Nelly Saoud
Michael Wagner
Kenneth Welch
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