World leaders send condolence messages<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Messages of condolence at the death of First
\nLady Mrs. Tien Soeharto poured in from world leaders and friends,
\nincluding several from neighboring Australia.<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister John Howard sent a cable on behalf
\nof his government and the Australian people, expressing "sincere
\ncondolences" to President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Howard was only recently installed as prime minister and has
\nnot had the chance to meet with Soeharto.<\/p>\n
His foreign minister, Alexander Downer, who was here a
\nfortnight ago, in a separate cable to Soeharto said "Our recent
\nmeeting has added to the great sense of sadness I feel at the
\nnews of your loss."<\/p>\n
Expressions of sympathy also came from Australian Governor
\nGeneral William Deane and former prime minister Paul Keating.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Keating, who during his term was known to
\nhave a close personal relationship with Soeharto, sent a hand
\nwritten message through the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.<\/p>\n
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and her husband Prince Klaus
\nalso sent messages of sympathy.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Beatrix's father, Prince Bernhard, was
\npersonally informed of the death by telephone on Sunday by
\nIndonesia's ambassador to The Hague, Soedarmanto Kadarisman.<\/p>\n
India's prime minister said in his message that "I recall
\nmeeting with Ibu Tien Soeharto during my visit to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"We share your sense of personal loss," he told President
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui, Premier Lien Chan and foreign
\nminister Fredrick Chien all expressed sadness at Ibu Tien's
\npassing.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia and Taiwan do not have diplomatic
\nrelations, Soeharto and Lee met each other during the Taiwanese
\nleader's 1994 visit to Bali.<\/p>\n
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was another world leader who
\ntook time to send a message of sympathy. "I wish to hasten, dear
\nfriend, at this moment of mourning, by expressing my heartfelt
\ncondolences and genuine solace," Mubarak said.<\/p>\n
Other leaders sending words of sympathy were Sri Lankan
\nPresident Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Palestinian
\nPresident Yasser Arafat and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Talal of
\nJordan and Russian President Boris Yeltsin.<\/p>\n
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in his condolence message said
\nhe was deeply saddened at the death of Ibu Tien. (mds)<\/p>",
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