PRESIDENT VENETIAAN PRESENTS SYMPATHY LETTER

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000476 SIPDIS FOR WHA/CAR - MSEIBEL, REAGAN CONDOLENCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PREL NS SUBJECT: PRESIDENT VENETIAAN PRESENTS SYMPATHY LETTER MARKING FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN'S DEATH ¶1. THE EMBASSY RECEIVED ON JUNE 22 A DIPLOMATIC NOTE WITH A SYMPATHY LETTER ADDRESSED TO PRESIDENT BUSH BY PRESIDENT VENETIAAN MARKING THE DEATH OF FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN. THE SIGNED ORIGINAL WILL BE FORWARDED VIA POUCH TO WHA/CAR FOR APPROPRIATE HANDLING. PRESIDENT VENETIAAN ALSO PERSONALLY SIGNED A CONDOLENCE BOOK ON JUNE 8, 2004 AT THE EMBASSY. THE TEXT OF HIS LETTER IS AS FOLLOWS: ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EXCELLENCY, IT IS WITH DEEP REGRET THAT I LEARNED OF THE DEMISE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE HONOURABLE RONALD REAGAN, ON JUNE 5, 2004. HE WAS INDEED A GREAT MAN TO THE UNITED STATES WHICH HE HAS SERVED WITH SUCH GREAT DISTINCTION. MR. REAGAN WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS HISTORICAL ROLE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING PEACE TO THE WORLD. ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME, I HEREWITH EXTEND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ESPECIALLY TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY. MAY ETERNAL PEACE BE HIS FOREVER. //SS// RUNALDO RONALD VENETIAAN PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME PARAMARIBO, 8 JUNE 2004 END TEXT BARNES NNNN