LETTER FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM PALACIO

UNCLAS STATE 056273 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL SP SUBJECT: LETTER FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM PALACIO ¶1. PLEASE DELIVER FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM PALACIO. THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PLAN TO RELEASE TEXT OF MESSAGE BUT HAS NO OBJECTION IF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN WISHES TO DO SO. NO SIGNED ORIGINAL WILL FOLLOW. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: DEAR ANA: I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO LEARN OF THE TRAGIC BOMBINGS IN MADRID THAT KILLED MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE. ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, I WISH TO EXPRESS OUR CONDOLENCES AND HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES TO THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LOST LOVED ONES. WE SHARE YOUR GRIEF. THESE DEPLORABLE, BARBARIC TERRORIST ACTS PROVE ONCE AGAIN THAT TERRORISM MUST BE FOUGHT IN ALL ITS FORMS, WHEREVER IT OCCURS. AS IN THE PAST, THE UNITED STATES TODAY STANDS WITH SPAIN IN ALL ITS EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM. TOGETHER WE WILL PERSEVERE AND MAKE THE WORLD SAFER FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT A TIME THIS MUST BE FOR YOU AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. YOU HAVE A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY IN LEADING THE NATION IN THIS HOUR OF LOSS, MOURNING, AND RESOLVE. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. SINCERELY, COLIN L. POWELL END TEXT. POWELL