Good evening, everybody. I just want to make a fewbrief comments about the attacks across Paristonight. Once again, we've seen an outrageousattempt to terrorize innocent civilians. This is anattack not just on Paris, it's an attack not just on thepeople of France, but this is an attack on all ofhumanity and the universal values that we share.
We stand prepared and ready to provide whateverassistance that the government and the people ofFrance need to respond. France is our oldest ally.The French people have stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States time and again.And we want to be very clear that we stand together with them in the fight against terrorismand extremism.
Paris itself represents the timeless values of human progress. Those who think that they canterrorize the people of France or the values that they stand for are wrong. The American peopledraw strength from the French people's commitment to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberté and égalité and fraternité arenot only values that the French people care so deeply about, but they are values that we share.And those values are going to endure far beyond any act of terrorism or the hateful vision ofthose who perpetrated the crimes this evening.
We're going to do whatever it takes to work with the French people and with nations around theworld to bring these terrorists to justice, and to go after any terrorist networks that go after ourpeople.
We don't yet know all the details of what has happened. We have been in contact with Frenchofficials to communicate our deepest condolences to the families of those who have beenkilled, to offer our prayers and thoughts to those who have been wounded. We have offered ourfull support to them. The situation is still unfolding. I've chosen not to call President Hollande atthis time, because my expectation is that he's very busy at the moment. I actually, bycoincidence, was talking to him earlier today in preparation for the G20 meeting. But I amconfident that I'll be in direct communications with him in the next few days, and we'll becoordinating in any ways that they think are helpful in the investigation of what's happened.
This is a heartbreaking situation. And obviously those of us here in the United States know whatit's like. We've gone through these kinds of episodes ourselves. And whenever these kinds ofattacks happened, we've always been able to count on the French people to stand with us. Theyhave been an extraordinary counterterrorism partner, and we intend to be there with themin that same fashion.
I'm sure that in the days ahead we'll learn more about exactly what happened, and my teamswill make sure that we are in communication with the press to provide you accurateinformation. I don't want to speculate at this point in terms of who was responsible for this. Itappears that there may still be live activity and dangers that are taking place as we speak. Andso until we know from French officials that the situation is under control, and we have for moreinformation about it, I don't want to speculate.
Thank you very much.
