The terrorist attacks against the United States seven years ago made it clear to free nations around the world that terrorism was a common enemy, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Thursday.
Speaking at a ceremony at the presidential Quirinale Palace marking the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Napolitano said in the war on terror ''we must bolster efforts to consolidate a collective security which respects inalienable rights and laws''.
''Italy is doing its part and will continue to do so also through its participation in multilateral missions in crucial areas, first among these Afghanistan,'' the president said.
''I am certain that thanks to these efforts America feels that we are evermore close to it,'' he added.
''Our commitment and support to the common effort against terrorism has made our already close nations even more united,'' Napolitano observed.
The Italian president then recalled that on September 11, 2001 ''the international community became dramatically aware of a threat the scope of which until then had not been understood in its entirety: international terrorism''.
''And it was a a wake-up call not only for America and Americans but for all nations and peoples who gained their freedom and who consider it an essential condition to govern themselves and to develop,'' he added.
''This gave birth to a new vision of global security and a joint effort to battle terrorism as a common enemy, identify its face, attack its sanctuaries and cut its lifelines,'' Napolitano said.
The ceremony at the Quirinale was attended by US Ambassador Ronald Spogli and Premier Silvio Berlusconi as well as other top state officials and representatives from both government and opposition parties.
