    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [July 8, 2004]
    [Page 1251]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Death of President Thomas Klestil of Austria
    July 8, 2004

        Laura and I offer our deepest condolences to
    the people of Austria and to the Klestil family on the death of
    President Thomas Klestil.
        President Klestil was a distinguished statesman who had previously
    served as Austria's Ambassador to the United States and as Austria's
    Permanent Representative to the United Nations. President Klestil was
    well known in the United States as a man dedicated to freedom and human
    dignity, and as President he was a committed and eloquent advocate of
    these values. We join all the people of Austria in mourning his passing.