    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [January 8, 1996]
    [Page 18]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 18]]

    Statement on the Death of Francois Mitterrand
    January 8, 1996

        I learned with deep regret this morning of the death of former
    President of France Francois Mitterrand. During his 14 years as
    President of the French Republic and in frequent service as a minister
    in the post-war years, President Mitterrand put his remarkable intellect
    and deep-rooted dedication to democracy at the service of the French
    nation.
        Not only France but the United States and the entire world benefited
    from his strong and principled leadership. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder
    with his NATO allies during the Soviet challenges of the early 1980's,
    the Gulf war, and the peaceful revolutions that ended a half-century of
    East-West confrontation. President Mitterrand's stalwart leadership
    during some of the Alliance's greatest challenges leaves the people of
    Europe with a hard-won legacy of peace.
        I consulted frequently with President Mitterrand, as did my
    predecessors, and greatly valued his insights, advice, and wisdom. He
    was a man of vision whose strength helped bring Europe and the West
    through a period of tough confrontation to the peaceful, undivided
    Europe we are building today.
        Hillary and I join the American people in expressing heartfelt
    sympathy to the people and the Government of France and to Danielle
    Mitterrand and the Mitterrand family. We hope the sorrow of this
    difficult time will be eased by an appreciation of the profound
    contribution that President Mitterrand made to his nation and the world.
    He was a great statesman.