[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.