Today's society has a great moral and legal responsibility to remember victims of terrorism. The years that these people spent in the fight against terrorism, as well as the radicalism that leads to terrorism, and their work on the consequences of terrorism, have benefited society, which, today more than ever, is subject to these cruel and barbarous terrorist attacks.

What does it mean to be a victim of terrorism? In the world there are states that cannot answer this question and do not wish to answer it. Anneta Gadiyeva is a survivor of the terrible events in Beslan, in North Ossetia, Russia, where on September 3rd, 2004, thirty-two armed militants seized a school. Gadiyeva's speech to the 450 participants of the VII International Congress on Victims of Terrorism was one of the most heartbreaking ever. In Beslan, she lost Melina, her one year-old daughter. The Russian government does not consider these people victims of terrorism, and does not provide them any assistance. Moscow does not know what might be a victim of terrorism.

Another victim of a terrorist attack in Russia is Irina Halay, who also was in Paris. On September 16th, 1999, a vehicle loaded with explosives blew up next to an apartment building in Volgodonsk. Halay reiterated Gadiyeva's speech: no one listens to the victims of terrorism in Russia. They feel alone, and forgotten. No one shows them any sympathy, and even wounded children are not provided specialized medical care. They are not considered victims, but simply injured persons.

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In Paris the 7th International Congress on Victims of Terrorism is underway, under the sponsorship of Nicholas Sarkozy

The Congress was attended by 450 delegates from 35 countries worldwide, all of them having once suffered from the acts of extremist groups.

The opening ceremony was conducted by French justice minister Michel Mercier, who thanked participants for their courage and noted the importance of psychological and medical support to victims of terrorist attacks, as well as to their families:

“We all know that terrorism is a global evil. The purpose of an act of terror is to affect the State and its politics, but civilians are always its victims, as they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is our common duty to honor victims of terrorism, those who died as a result of a terrorist act, and I can tell you how important it is for us to listen to the opinion of these victims. It is a courageous act to speak as a witness. Yet it is a required act, in order that our anti-terrorism work never falters and so that our support and respect for those who have suffered from this senseless violence never weakens.

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The final working day of the 7th International Congress on Victims of Terrorism was held in Paris's Grand-Palais. Representing Russia were Irina Halay, victim of the September 1999 Volgodonsk terrorist attack, Aneta Gudiyeva, co-chair of the 'Beslan Mothers' committee, and Svetlana Gubareva, herself a hostage at 'Nord-Ost' and lost her husband and 13-year-old daughter in that attack.

Russians never noticed that their country ended up sharing company with Israel and Iraq – these countries are places where more frequently than anywhere else in the world there are reports of terrorist attacks. Even apart from the regular excesses in the North Caucasus, the subway bombings, seizures of concert halls, and attacks on airliners would be enough to make Russia a world leader in terrorism. That it is “international” — which the authorities oftentimes proudly report — does not make it any easier on the Russians.

The government has turned out to be incapable — either unable, or unwilling — to protect its citizens from terrorists. When people are affected by these troubles, their loving country denies any responsibility and even worse denies them rehabilitation and compensation.

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On September 15th Paris hosted the 7th International Congress on Victims of Terrorism. Attending the opening of the Congress was First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Aliyeva.

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