Washington -
Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office posted the following statement on January 31, 2015:
The United States condemns the heinous
murder of Japanese citizen and journalist Kenji Goto by the terrorist
group ISIL. Through his reporting, Mr. Goto courageously sought to
convey the plight of the Syrian people to the outside world. Our
thoughts are with Mr. Goto’s family and loved ones, and we stand today
in solidarity with Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese people in
denouncing this barbaric act.
We applaud Japan’s steadfast commitment
to advancing peace and prosperity in the Middle East and globally,
including its generous assistance for innocent people affected by the
conflicts in the region. Standing together with a broad coalition of
allies and partners, the United States will continue taking decisive
action to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.
