    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 14, 2000]
    [Page 929]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Death of Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi of Japan
    May 14, 2000

        Hillary and I are deeply saddened by the death of former Prime
    Minister Keizo Obuchi. I want to extend our deepest condolences to his
    wife, Chizuko, his family, and his nation.
        Japan has lost a strong and vibrant leader. The United States has
    lost one of our closest friends.
        I had the honor of meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi several times
    after he became Prime Minister in 1998. I visited him in Tokyo that
    fall, and he came to Washington for a memorable visit in May 1999. In
    all our meetings, I was impressed by his effective statesmanship and his
    personal warmth. He believed ardently, as I do, in a U.S.-Japanese
    partnership built upon shared values and mutual respect. The personal
    friendship he and I forged helped us act on that belief and strengthened
    our desire to address all the issues affecting our two countries in a
    spirit of true friendship. The bonsai tree he gave me, and which he
    tended himself, is a living symbol of our alliance.
        The job of Prime Minister is never easy, but Keizo Obuchi met every
    challenge with courage and confidence. He embodied before the world the
    famous Japanese virtues of honor, loyalty, and determination. He became
    known for imitating the art and skill of an orchestra conductor in
    finding harmony among people of different views. From his first days in
    office, he took swift steps to meet the economic challenges facing
    Japan, and he also gave strong support to the cause of peace--from
    Kosovo to East Timor. Prime Minister Obuchi worked hard in countless
    ways to strengthen our alliance and to place it on a new foundation for
    the 21st century. The friendship between our peoples remains the
    cornerstone of stability in east Asia and was greatly strengthened by
    his lifetime of building bridges between us.
        Prime Minister Obuchi touched the hearts of Americans in simple,
    human ways: when he threw out what he called an unhittable pitch to
    Sammy Sosa; when he reminded us of the honor he felt meeting Robert
    Kennedy as young man; when he told us how he drew from that meeting new
    inspiration for the noble privilege of serving a great people.
        On behalf of all Americans, I am grateful for Prime Minister
    Obuchi's dedicated, principled public service and for all he did to
    build for us a brighter future. I will work closely with Prime Minister
    Mori to continue our close cooperation with
    Japan.