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On September 12, 2001 at the Ambassadorial Level meeting of EAPC at NATO HQ in Brussels Lithuanian Ambassador G. Damušytė on behalf of the Vilnius group --Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia-- made a statement expressing the commonality of the positions taken by the Group countries’ governments in response to the tragic events in the United States the day before. The statement conveyed unanimous condemnation of the barbaric acts of terrorism committed against United States civilian, official and military institutions. The Vilnius group expressed deepest condolences to the victims and their families. It was noted that those responsible for the death and destruction should not go unpunished. The Group expressed solidarity with the United States and announced standing ready to lend its support as well as available capabilities in the fight against terrorism. It was underscored that these attacks had affected not only one country, but indeed all the civilized nations that believe in freedom, democracy and global security. The Vilnius group aligned itself with the statement made by the North Atlantic Council on September 11. The ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania also sent condolences to the US ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns.