SURINAME PRESIDENT VENETIAAN CONDOLENCE LETTER TO

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000018 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR LAURA LUFTIG STATE FOR WHA STAFFERS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV US NS SUBJECT: SURINAME PRESIDENT VENETIAAN CONDOLENCE LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH REF: STATE 203066 ¶1. Post is pleased to forward a condolence letter from His Excellency, Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname to President George W. Bush on the death of former President Ford. ¶2. The text of the letter is repeated below and the original message will be pouched to the Department. The pouch registration number is ¶5600641. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER His Excellency George W. Bush President of the United States of America Excellency, It is with deep regret that I have learned of the death of the former President of the United States of America, the Honorable Gerald Ford. Mr. Ford will be remembered for his significant performance as President and for the historical role in the development of his country. 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 and especially to the bereaved family. May the everlasting peace of the Almighty be his forever. Please, Excellency, accept the assurances of my highest consideration. Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan President of the Republic of Suriname END TEXT OF LETTER ¶3. Further information concerning President Ford and Suriname, which may be useful in any reply to President Venetiaan: ¶4. President Ford shared a unique bond with Suriname. During his presidency he had the honor to officially recognize the Republic of Suriname as an independent nation on its first day of independence, November 25, 1975. On that occasion, President Ford wrote to Suriname's first President, Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier. The words and sentiments expressed in President Ford's letter hold true today: "We are fortunate in having a tradition of friendly relations between our peoples upon which we can build a cooperative relationship. The United States shares the aspirations of your Government for the progress and welfare of the people of Suriname." ¶5. The following year, in March of 1976, President Ford sent Ambassador J. Owen Zurhellen, Jr. as the first U.S. Ambassador to Suriname. SCHREIBER HUGHES