[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO FOREIGN MINISTER OF SWEDEN ANNA LINDH

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deliver a short 
message both to the American people and to my good friends in Sweden 
and, indeed, to all the people of Sweden.
  Mr. Speaker, last week, the foreign minister of Sweden was brazenly 
assassinated. I hope the people of Sweden will accept Congress' 
heartfelt sympathy for the passing of their Foreign Minister, Anna 
Lindh. I had the greatest respect for this very talented woman. I 
certainly agree with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's comment 
that ``she represented everything that was wonderful about Sweden and 
about Europe.''
  Anna Lindh's devotion to all of the citizens of Sweden and to the 
betterment of our world was very laudable. That she was considered a 
possible future prime minister is not surprising. Her reputation as one 
of Sweden's most popular government officials was recognition by you of 
her unimpeachable integrity and great vision. Anna Lindh saw all that 
was good about a nation already held in high regard around the world 
and strove to polish its image even more.
  Everyone who considers government service a noble calling had an 
excellent role model in this wonderful woman. Far from putting an end 
to the goals she had set for herself and her people, her death will 
encourage others with similarly high ideals to continue and expand on 
her work, taking it to new heights. That would be the best way to honor 
her memory, and Sweden deserves nothing less.
  We are all much poorer for this terrible tragedy. Sweden has lost a 
great leader, and the world has lost one of its finest citizens. After 
our period of grief, all of us, government leaders and common citizens 
alike, must rededicate ourselves to the work of making our nations and 
our world the kind of places Anna Lindh wanted for us. As we go 
forward, her spirit will be guiding us.

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