FRANCE-SHOOTING/KERRY-TOWN HALL UPDATE "I came to share a hug," Kerry tells French people

Record ID: 324364

  • Title: FRANCE-SHOOTING/KERRY-TOWN HALL UPDATE "I came to share a hug," Kerry tells French people
  • Date: 16th January 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 16, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF PARIS TOWN HALL BANNER OUTSIDE PARIS TOWN HALL READING (French): "CHARLIE HEBDO HONORARY CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF PARIS" PAINTED CEILING INSIDE PARIS TOWN HALL / NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM UNITED STATES (U.S.) SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY ENTERING TOWN HALL FOR CEREMONY KERRY WALKING TO PODIUM VARIOUS OF KERRY, PARIS MAYOR ANNE HIDALGO AND AUDIENCE OBSERVING ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "On the day of the living nightmare that began at Charlie Hebdo, I had a chance to share a few thoughts with you from back home in Washington. And today I just, I really wanted to come here and share a hug with all of Paris and all of France. I wanted to express to you personally the sheer horror and revulsion that all Americans felt for the cowardly and despicable act, the assault on innocent lives and on fundamental values." HIDALGO AND KERRY ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (French) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "No nation knows better than France that freedom has a price, because France is at the origin of so many revolutions of human minds including our own. Your commitment to freedom and to freedom of speech is an inspiration for the world." EU, FRENCH, U.S. AND PARIS CITY FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SAYING: "We simply will not descend into despair. We will turn this moment of profound loss into lasting commitment. We accept with humility the responsibility that falls to each of us to defend the values our societies cherish and extremists fear the most: tolerance, freedom, truth." AUDIENCE KERRY AND HIDALGO KERRY AND HIDALGO WATCHING SINGER JAMES TAYLOR ON STAGE, TAYLOR SITTING DOWN TO PLAY A SONG
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA49HC5MJBVJ88RX58V5I2ZXHE1
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE THIS IS HIGH QUALITY EDIT TO REPLACE 5135-FRANCE-SHOOTING/KERRY-TOWN HALL
    United States (U.S.) Secretary of State John Kerry told the French people on Friday (January 16) that Americans shared the 'horror and revulsion' at the Islamist attacks that killed 17 people in Paris last week.
    Earlier in the day, the chief U.S. diplomat laid wreaths of white lilies and red roses at the sites of the two attacks, one on the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly and the other at a Jewish supermarket in the French capital.
    Kerry's visit came after the United States failed to send a top official to attend Sunday's (January 11) march in the French capital, an omission that led to significant domestic criticism and a rare White House admission that it had made a mistake.
    Kerry said he wanted to give "a big hug" to the French people and earlier on Friday, Kerry embraced President Francois Hollande in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace before going inside for a meeting.
    "On the day of the living nightmare that began at Charlie Hebdo, I had a chance to share a few thoughts with you from back home in Washington. And today I just, I really wanted to come here and share a hug with all of Paris and all of France. I wanted to express to you personally the sheer horror and revulsion that all Americans felt for the cowardly and despicable act, the assault on innocent lives and on fundamental values," Kerry said in an address at the Paris city hall (Hotel de Ville).
    While Kerry and his aides stressed that he was not trying to make amends for the U.S. absence on Sunday, by word and deed he sought to convey the United States' solidarity with France, its oldest ally.
    Switching to French, Kerry said: "No nation knows better than France that freedom has a price, because France is at the origin of so many revolutions of the human minds including our own. Your commitment to freedom and to freedom of speech is an inspiration for the world."
    Kerry, who learned the language as a boy, spoke about his mother, who worked as a nurse in Paris during World War II and fled the Nazis by bicycle with her sister to Portugal, where she embarked on a boat for the United States.
    "We simply will not descend into despair. We will turn this moment of profound loss into lasting commitment. We accept with humility the responsibility that falls to each of us to defend the values our societies cherish and extremists fear the most: tolerance, freedom, truth," Kerry said.
    American musician James Taylor sang a song at the same event.
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