Groundbreaking Ceremony: September 16, 2005

September 16, 2005 - Groundbreaking Ceremony for 'To the Struggle Against World Terrorism, A Monument Created by Zurab Tsereteli as a gift to the American people'

A ceremonial Groundbreaking for the monument To the Struggle Against World Terrorism was held on September 16, 2005. The keynote speaker was Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, who noted that Russia also had experienced the grief of terrorism. Speaking at the site where the Monument would be installed, with the Statue of Liberty in clear view behind him, President Putin said, “...Four years ago, the terrorists intended to plunge America and the civilized world into chaos, but they have failed. On the contrary, mankind united. We have made an efficient international anti terrorist coalition. I fully agree with Mr. Mayor. We defeated Nazism and together we will win a victory over terrorism. This monument, in memory of victims of the September 11th attacks, will serve as a symbol of Russian American unity against world terrorism.”

Download Vladimir Putin's speech
View a gallery of the groundbreaking event