The debate, conducted in Spanish, was translated by reporter Alicia Alvarez

WASHINGTON – The principles of the French Revolution “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” were underlying every speech given Thursday during the Permanent Council meeting of the Organization of American States.

The representatives of each member state showed their support and solidarity for France’s Permanent Observer for the OAS Jean Claude Nolla after the Jan. 8 terrorist attacks in Paris.

Each country from the American continent extended its condolences to the French people and their government. The representatives said they stand together against terrorist acts.

The OAS meeting took place Thursday to issue the Declaration on the Terrorist Attacks in France. The motion was introduced by the Permanent Mission of Guatemala.

“Along our hemisphere, voices of indignation and condemnation have risen. The voices of the countries of the Americas have joined in with the ones in Europe and the rest of the world,” Guatemalan Permanent Representative Jose Maria Argueta said.

The principles from the French Revolution are everyone’s, according to Costa Rica’s Permanent Mission, and the courage people have expressed is the “courage of today’s civilized world that wants peace and not violence, tolerance and not terrorism.” attacks brought out a freedom of expression debate that questioned the morality of making fun of other religions.

“Provoking and insulting other people’s faiths is not right,” Pope Francis told reporters Thursday during a flight on his trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

He tried to illustrate this point with a metaphor: if a person insulted someone’s mom then he should expect a punch in the face.

Several representatives praised France for its reaction to the attacks, saying the public unity showed the country’s democratic society.

The adopted declaration by the Permanent Council’s session declared that terrorism is condemned in every part of the world, no matter what the form, and “calls for the consolidation of peace, tolerance, respect for life and other fundamental rights and freedoms.”

Reach reporter Alicia Alvarez at [email protected] or 202-408-1489.