Gandhinagar: Top US diplomat John Kerry vowed that no act of terror would halt “the march of freedom” as he expressed solidarity on Sunday with the people of France after last week’s Islamist attacks.
“We stand together this morning with the people of France as they march in tribute to the victims of last week’s murderous attack on the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo in Paris,” the US Secretary of State said in India.
“We stand together not just in anger and outrage but in solidarity and commitment in confronting extremism and in the cause that extremists fear so much, and that has always united our countries.
“We stand together in freedom and together we make it clear that no act of terror will ever stop the march of freedom.”
Kerry was speaking ahead of a rally in Paris that is expected to draw more than a million people to condemn the killings of 17 people by Islamist extremists last week, including 12 who died during an attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper.
Dozens of world leaders will also join the march although US President Barack Obama will not be among them.
Meanwhile Kerry said: “President Obama is very excited and particularly pleased with the fact that he will be the first US President to be honoured as the chief guest on Republic Day commemoration.”   Â
Modi had invited the US President to be the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26. Obama accepted the invitation in signs of expanding ties between the two nations.
“And he will the first sitting US President to visit India twice while in office,” Kerry said. “Let me make it clear we believe in values that both countries share.”Â