to President Hollande of France and hope

to have the opportunity to talk to him today.

But I thought it was appropriate for me to express

my deepest sympathies to the people of Paris

and the people of France for the terrible

terrorist attack that took place earlier today.

I think that all of us recognize that France

is one of our oldest allies, our strongest allies.

They have been with us at every moment when we've --

from 9/11 on, in dealing with some of the terrorist

organizations around the world that threaten us.

For us to see the kind of cowardly evil attacks that

took place today I think reinforces once again

why it's so important for us to stand in solidarity

with them, just as they stand in solidarity with us.

The fact that this was an attack on journalists,

attack on our free press, also underscores the degree

to which these terrorists fear freedom --

of speech and freedom of the press.

But the one thing that I'm very confident about

is that the values that we share with the French people,

a belief -- a universal belief in the freedom

of expression, is something that can't be silenced

because of the senseless violence of the few.

And so our counterterrorism cooperation

with France is excellent.

We will provide them with every bit

of assistance that we can going forward.

I think it's going to be important for

us to make sure that we recognize these kinds

of attacks can happen anywhere in the world.

And one of the things I'll be discussing with

Secretary Kerry today is to make sure that

we remain vigilant not just with respect

to Americans living in Paris,

but Americans living in Europe and in the Middle East

and other parts of the world, and making sure

that we stay vigilant in trying to protect them --

and to hunt down and bring the perpetrators

of this specific act to justice, and to roll

up the networks that help to advance these

kinds of plots.

In the end, though, the most important thing

I want to say is that our thoughts and prayers are

with the families of those who've been lost

in France, and with the people of Paris

and the people of France.

What that beautiful city represents -- the culture

and the civilization that is so central to our

imaginations -- that's going to endure.

And those who carry out senseless attacks against

innocent civilians, ultimately they'll be forgotten.

And we will stand with the people of France

through this very, very difficult time.

Thank you very much, everybody.