[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22597-22598]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONDOLENCES FOR THE HURRICANE KATRINA TRAGEDY

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the attached 
letters from various foreign officials be printed in the Record. They 
have all sent their condolences for the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                             The Senate of Canada,


                                        Speaker of the Senate,

                                Ottawa, Canada, September 2, 2005.
     Senator Ted Stevens,
     President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Senator Stevens: On behalf of The Senate of Canada, I join 
     all Canadians in expressing to you, your Senate colleagues, 
     and fellow citizens our sympathy and condolences on your 
     country's great loss.
       As we learn more about the wide-spread devastation arising 
     from Hurricane Katrina, it becomes increasingly difficult to 
     fully comprehend the extent of the tragedy. Even so, we 
     extend our thoughts and prayers to all the victims, their 
     families and others hit by this terrible disaster. The 
     numerous telephone calls I have been receiving from 
     Canadians, urging us to be of whatever assistance we can to 
     our American friends, shows how much this tragedy has touched 
     Canadians personally. I assure you we will be supportive in 
     every way we can, and are determined to work together to help 
     both immediately and over the long term.
       I wish you great strength both now and in the days ahead.
           Sincerely,
     Dan Hays.
                                  ____

         Embassy of Hungary, Speaker of the Hungarian National 
           Assembly,
                                      Budapest, September 5, 2005.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     President pro tempore of the Senate, Washington, DC.
       Excellency: I was shocked to hear the news about the 
     disaster caused by the hurricane Katrina. We are very well 
     aware of the situation in which hundreds of thousands of 
     people are in New Orleans. The human tribulation in such a 
     huge mass makes us wordless and silent, and awake deep 
     sorrow. The Hungarian public has been turning in these days 
     with deep sympathy to the people in New Orleans.
       From my part, Your Excellency, please accept my deepest 
     sympathy in your bereavement. On behalf of the National 
     Assembly of Hungary I would also like to offer my condolences 
     to the relatives and families of the victims. In the meantime 
     I would like to let you know that you can count on our 
     support, the Hungarian team of rescue is already on the venue 
     to give aid and assistance to the people in need, and to 
     fight shoulder to shoulder with your authorities.
       I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your 
     Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
           Yours sincerely,
     Dr. Katalin Szili.
                                  ____



                                               Prime Minister,

                             Jerusalem, Israel, September 1, 2005.
     Mr. George W. Bush,
     President, The United States of America,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: On behalf of my Government and the 
     people of Israel, I wish to express my sincerest condolences 
     on the horrible tragedy that has befallen the United States, 
     especially the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, 
     in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
       I would like to offer Israel's assistance in volunteering 
     our medical teams which include hundreds of doctors, nurses, 
     technicians and other experts that specialize in trauma, 
     natural disasters and public health. We also offer field 
     hospitals, medical kits and equipment for temporary housing, 
     re-enforcement for hospitals, or any other assistance that 
     you may require. I was informed by my security establishment 
     that these teams and equipment can be ready in 24 hours.
       During these difficult times, we, the people of Israel, 
     stand firmly by your side in a show of solidarity and 
     friendship.
           Sincerely,
     Ariel Sharon.
                                  ____

                                                  August 30, 2005.
     Hon. Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
     Secretary of State, Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Rice: Please allow me to express my 
     condolences to you and to the people of the United States of 
     America, on the loss of life and the terrible pain and 
     destruction caused by Hurricane Katerina.
       May the families of the victims find peace and comfort.
       As we all stand in awe at the great force of nature 
     unleashed on the shores of the United States, please rest 
     assured that the people of Israel share your sorrow and 
     extend our hand in comfort and friendship. We also stand 
     ready to assist in any way possible.
           Yours sincerely,
     Silvan Shalom.
                                  ____


             A Prayer for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina

                 (By Chief Israeli Rabbi, Yona Metzger)

       ``Our Heavenly Father, Founder of the world and Creator of 
     the universe, compassionate and merciful God, please spare 
     and show compassion to Your creatures and the world You have 
     created, and especially the inhabitants of the states among 
     the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. Save them from every 
     calamity, from the winds of storm and hurricane, from the 
     waters of the sea, and from every sorrow and evil, and send 
     deliverance and redemption to all those who call upon Thy 
     Name. Save them from the floodwaters and rescue them from the 
     abyss, lead them to a place of safety, and do not abandon 
     them, and in Your abundant mercy send them redemption in the 
     measure of their loss, and complete healing to the sick and 
     those in pain, and comfort to their souls and spirit. May all 
     the inhabitants of the Earth know and recognize that You are 
     the Supreme King, who rules the powers of the universe and 
     shows mercy to His creatures, who praise Your great Name, 
     amen.''
                                  ____



                                    Inter-Parliamentary Union,

                                              Geneva, Switzerland.
     Hon. Dennis Hastert,
     Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Ted Stevens,
     Senate President Pro Tempore, U.S. Congress,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker, Dear Mr. President: In the wake of 
     Hurricane Katrina which has lashed the gulf states of the 
     United States, leaving a trail of destruction and causing the 
     loss of so many lives, we wish to express to the United 
     States Congress and the people of the United States of 
     America the solidarity and heartfelt sympathy of the Inter-
     Parliamentary Union. Our deepest condolences go to the 
     relatives of those who have lost their lives in one of the 
     most devastating storms in your country's history.
           High Consideration,
     Sergio Paez Verdugo,
       President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
     Anders B. Johnson,
       Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
                                  ____



                                            National Assembly,

                                                  State of Kuwait.
     Hon. Ted Stevens (pro tempore),
     Speaker of the Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: We have been devastated by the news of 
     the natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina) which hit a number 
     of states in the Mexican Gulf south of the U.S.A and resulted 
     in the death of several innocent people and the loss of 
     others, in addition to the destruction of properties.
       On behalf of my colleagues members of the National Assembly 
     of Kuwait and myself, I would like to express my deepest 
     condolences to your Excellency and the friendly people of the 
     U.S.A. and the families of the victims.

[[Page 22598]]

       I wish your country peace, stability, security, and 
     prosperity.
       Please accept the assurances of my highest considerations.
           Best regards,
     Jassim Mohammad AL-Kharafi.

                          ____________________