[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9243-H9244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN RESPONSE 
          TO THE MURDER OF SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER ANNA LINDH

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 372), expressing the condolences of the House 
of Representatives in response to the murder of Swedish Foreign 
Minister Anna Lindh.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 372

       Whereas Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was brutally 
     attacked by an unknown assailant on the afternoon of 
     September 10, 2003;
       Whereas Ms. Lindh died the next morning after undergoing 
     surgery performed in a desperate attempt to save her life;
       Whereas Ms. Lindh's murder is an attack on the freedoms and 
     tranquility enjoyed by the people of Sweden;
       Whereas Ms. Lindh was elected to the Swedish Parliament in 
     1982, was appointed Minister of the Environment in the 
     government of Prime Minister Goran Persson in 1994, and rose 
     to the post of Foreign Minister in 1998;
       Whereas Ms. Lindh demonstrated dedication to the causes of 
     human rights and environmental responsibility as a leader in 
     the Swedish Government;
       Whereas at the time of her death, Ms. Lindh was campaigning 
     for Sweden to adopt the European common currency in a 
     referendum which took place just a few days after her murder;
       Whereas Ms. Lindh was widely recognized as an advocate of 
     freedom and peace in Europe and throughout the world;
       Whereas this is the second time the Swedish people have 
     suffered the loss of a respected national leader as Prime 
     Minister Olaf Palme was murdered in a similar manner in 1986; 
     and
       Whereas such senseless acts of violence are a threat to 
     democracy and to civilized society wherever and whenever they 
     occur: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its deepest sympathies to the people of 
     Sweden and the family of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh 
     following her tragic and untimely murder;
       (2) condemns all senseless acts of violence against public 
     officials;
       (3) urges the President to provide all appropriate 
     assistance that may be requested by Swedish law enforcement 
     officials as they pursue the perpetrator of this heinous act; 
     and
       (4) expresses the solidarity of the people of the United 
     States with the people of Sweden and the Swedish Government 
     at this difficult time.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, this Member rises in support of H. Res. 372 expressing 
the condolences of the House in response to the death of Swedish 
Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. As my colleagues will recall, Foreign 
Minister Lindh was senselessly attacked and murdered on September 10, 
2003.
  This Member commends the author of this resolution, his good friend 
and the ranking Democrat of the Committee on International Relations, 
the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for 
introducing this expression of our heartfelt sympathy to the people of 
Sweden on the loss of their foreign minister.
  Although this Member did not have the pleasure and honor of meeting 
Foreign Minister Lindh, it is widely recognized that she represented 
the very best of Sweden. She was a strong advocate for her country as 
its leading diplomat.

                              {time}  1615

  Ms. Lindh possessed a passion for human rights and justice and was 
committed to world peace.
  Throughout her tragically-shortened political career, Anna Lindh 
served as the head of the Social democrats youth movement, entered 
Parliament in 1982, became environment minister in 1994, and began 
serving as Foreign Minister in 1998. Many knowledgeable persons 
speculate that she would have been eventually serving as Sweden's Prime 
Minister.
  As Foreign Minister, she worked tirelessly to promote a more active 
Sweden in international affairs and within the European Union. Over the 
past year, she became one of Sweden's strongest advocates for joining 
Europe's single currency.
  Anna Lindh worked to have Sweden and NATO cooperate on defense 
matters, and she actively supported the admission of the Baltic states 
into both NATO and the European Union. And, of course, under her 
leadership, Sweden enjoyed friendly relations with the United States.
  Madam Speaker, by her death, the people of Sweden, and of the world, 
have suffered the loss of a respected national leader.
  In closing, the Member strongly urges passage of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 372 and urge all of my 
colleagues to do so as well.
  If it were not a violation of House rules, I would be pleased to 
recognize the presence in the Chamber of the distinguished Ambassador 
of Sweden, but since it is, I shall not do so.
  Madam Speaker, I am grateful to my lead cosponsors, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) 
and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the many other 
cosponsors supporting this legislation.

[[Page H9244]]

  Madam Speaker, many of our colleagues on the Committee on 
International Relations will remember as long as they live meeting, 
about a year ago, with Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We had an 
extraordinarily sophisticated and lively discussion on the broader 
spectrum of international issues. We disagreed on some matters and 
agreed on others, but I know all of us found her to be extremely 
impressive, charming and intelligent as the top foreign policy person, 
as our friend, Sweden.
  Less than a year ago at the NATO summit in Prague, by chance my wife, 
Annette, and I were seated next to Foreign Minister Lindh at the 
banquet given in Prague Castle by the distinguished President of the 
Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel. I simply cannot tell you how much I 
enjoyed the lively conversation these two extraordinary women had, both 
of them passionately committed to human rights and public service.
  Madam Speaker, as my colleagues painfully know, just recently Anna 
Lindh was murdered by an assailant in a Stockholm department store. Her 
inexplicable and untimely tragic death was a shock to all of her 
countrymen in Sweden and to all of us who knew her and admired her and 
who have worked with her ever since she began her service as Foreign 
Minister of Sweden.
  Her death was a blow to the peace-loving people of Sweden. The shock 
had an even greater impact, Madam Speaker, because former Swedish Prime 
Minister Olaf Palme, who had been Anna's role model, was murdered on a 
Stockholm street in 1986 under similar and still-unresolved 
circumstances.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 372 expresses the condolences of the 
House of Representatives and of the American people to the family of 
Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We condemn all such senseless acts of 
violence against public officials, and we express our solidarity with 
the people of Sweden at this difficult time.
  Madam Speaker, Anna was very young. She was a brilliant lawyer, who 
at age 37 became Minister for the Environment in Sweden, one of the 
most important cabinet posts in the Swedish Government, and at age 41 
she became Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  Madam Speaker, the distinguished Prime Minister of Sweden, Goran 
Persson made very poignant remarks at the memorial service for Anna 
which characterized her many gifts and talents.
  I would like to share a few of Prime Minister Goran Persson's remarks 
during her eulogy.
  ``Anna Lindh lived out her vision for the world in her everyday life. 
She knew that good political leadership is about more than just lofty 
words. Anna Lindh believed in people. She believed in people as the 
remarkable beings they are, with an almost unlimited capacity to grow 
and to develop. She believed in people's inner-strength and potential, 
but she also knew how easily that strength can be lost. For Anna, 
people were at the core of every issue. Human rights were always her 
driving force. Violations and oppression were the opponents in the 
fight. Democracy was always the means and people were always the 
answer. That is the way she was, in big issues and small alike. She 
cared.''
  Madam Speaker, I humbly ask for strong support of H. Res. 372, which 
sends our deepest condolences to Anna Lindh's family and to the people 
of Sweden, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this effort.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor of 
this resolution expressing the House's condolences to the family of 
Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, to her many friends, and to the people of 
a country left a sadder place for her absence.
  While her brutal murder shook the foundation of that proud and 
peaceful nation, it is her life--not her death--that is her legacy.
  In only 46 years of life, Anna Lindh rapidly ascended the European 
political community to become one of its most capable, competent, and 
respected members. She was a singularly instrumental figure during the 
Swedish presidency of the European Union in 2001.
  From joining the Swedish Social Democratic League at age 12, Ms. 
Lindh was destined for a career in public service. She was elected to 
the Swedish parliament the year she graduated from law school. She 
later became the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm, Minister of the 
Environment, and eventually, Foreign Minister.
  The impact of her political skill and achievements touched people 
worldwide, most notably in the Balkans, where her remarkable talents 
helped prevent war in Macedonia.
  Building coalitions was her calling, and her success in this 
critically important area earned the respect of leaders from around the 
globe. When asked once what he appreciated most about Sweden, our own 
Secretary Colin Powell once replied ``Abba, Volvo, and Anna.''
  Anna Lindh truly epitomized a new generation of internationally-
minded politicians. Her murder was a tragedy that cannot be forgotten, 
but it will not overshadow her achievements and her lasting 
contributions to the international community.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important 
resolution. On behalf of more than 12,000 of my constituents of Swedish 
descent, I offer my sincere condolences.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 372.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________