Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04GUATEMALA1477
2004-06-15 20:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

TFUS01: REAGAN CONDOLENCES

Tags:  GT PGOV PREL US 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001477 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GT PGOV PREL US
SUBJECT: TFUS01: REAGAN CONDOLENCES

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001477

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GT PGOV PREL US
SUBJECT: TFUS01: REAGAN CONDOLENCES


1. Summary: The Embassy received condolence letters
addressed to the Ambassador from President Oscar Berger
Perdomo and former President (1986-90) and sitting
Congressional Deputy Vinicio Cerezo regarding the passing of
former President Reagan. The President, the Vice President,
the Foreign Minister, and the Minister of Education also
called to express their condolences. The diplomatic corps
and several other Government officials signed Embassy
condolence books. End Summary.


2. Unofficial English translations of the texts of both
messages follow.

Text of Message from President Berger:


Allow me to express my condolences for the passing of Mister
Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States of
America, and permit me to ask you to extend our nation's
condolences to your illustrious government and to the noble
people of the United States of America.


Text of Message from Former President Cerezo:


Recently I became aware of the passing of Mister President
Ronald Reagan, after a lengthy illness. I personally had the
pleasure and honor to share very special moments in the
history of our two countries and Central America with Mister
President Reagan, and I always appreciated his sense of
history and the role that the United States of America should
play in the world, particularly his convictions regarding the
greatness of American ideals, as an example for the rest of
the world.

Surely on some occasions we might have had different points
of view regarding issues of mutual interest, but I always
perceived in his attitude that the philosophy that inspired
his government would permit democratic leaders in the world
to find common ground despite their differences, which
convinced me then of the importance of trying to find points
of convergence uniting our countries in mutual understanding.

This allows me to testify to the important role that Mister
President Ronald Reagan played in guiding the foreign policy
of the United States of America in difficult times and
contributing to the solution of these problems; I always
respected his ingenuity, his wisdom, and his gift as a
statesman and for this I offer tribute to the memory of one
of the great presidents of the United States and of the
world. Allow me to offer my sincere condolences and ask you
to send these sentiments to his family, and through the
United States Government to the people of the United States
of America.


3. The Embassy also received condolence letters from
Education Minister Maria del Carmen Acena de Fuentes; and
Carlos Ramiro Martinez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.


4. The Embassy provided two condolence books. One was
located in the chancery and was signed by the diplomatic
corps and other government officials. Among those who signed
the condolence book in the chancery were the Ambassadors of
Korea, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Germany, Japan, Spain,
the Holy See, Switzerland, Nicaragua, Norway, Argentina,
Brazil, and Chile; and the Chief of Mission for the OIM. The
other book was placed in the American-Guatemala Institute and
received notes from the general public.
HAMILTON