    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 23, 1997]
    [Page 1652]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1652]]

    Statement on the Death of Jorge Mas Canosa
    November 23, 1997

        Hillary and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jorge
    Mas Canosa, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Cuba Broadcasting and
    long-time champion of a free Cuba.
        It was Jorge's vision which ultimately led to the creation of Radio
    Marti by Congress enacting the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act in 1983,
    to encourage the communication of accurate information and ideas to the
    people of Cuba. He served as Chairman of the Advisory Board from its
    inception.
        Jorge was a born leader and organizer, whose tenacity, strength of
    conviction, and passion I greatly admired. He galvanized his community,
    his adopted country, and people around the world for the cause of
    freedom and democracy in Cuba. We have lost a forceful voice for freedom
    in Cuba and elsewhere, but his dream lives on. He will be missed.
        Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Irma, and his sons,
    Jorge, Juan, and Jose. Hillary and I join the Cuban-American community
    and others around the world who care for the cause of freedom in Cuba in
    mourning his loss.