[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.
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