[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 24 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Page 1338]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Death of President Hafiz al-Asad of Syria

June 10, 2000

    I am saddened by the news of President Asad's death and want to 
offer my condolences to his family and to the Syrian people.
    Over the past 7 years, I have met him many times and gotten to know 
him very well. We had our differences, but I always respected him. Since 
the Madrid Conference, he made a strategic choice for peace, and we 
worked together to achieve that goal. Throughout my contacts with him, 
including our last meeting, he made clear Syria's continued commitment 
to the path of peace.
    We look forward to working with Syria to achieve the goal of a 
comprehensive peace.