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Leaders Express Condolences on Death of President Arafat German Federal President Horst Köhler, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed their condolences on November 11 to the Palestinian people and to the family on the death of President Yasser Arafat. Foreign Minister Fischer will attend the funeral in Egypt. In a letter of condolence to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, Chancellor Gerhard Schröer recalled Arafat?s efforts for Palestinians: ?Throughout his entire life, Yasser Arafat's aspirations were focused on leading the Palestinians to autonomy and to establishing a sovereign, viable Palestinian state. Together with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in bringing about lasting peace in the Middle East. Yasser Arafat was not granted the privilege of seeing his life's work completed.? Federal President Köhler sent his condolences to interim Palestinian President Rauhi Fattouh. He wished the ruling Palestinian leaders courage and farsightedness to take decisive steps on the way to peace and reforms. In the Middle East, he continued, there could be only one solution, “a sovereign, viable, and democratic state in which the Palestinians can determine their own fate in peaceful coexistence with Israel.” Foreign Minister Fischer said in a statement: “With the death of President Yasser Arafat the Palestinian people have lost their historic leader. With his passing, an era has drawn to an end.” He went on to say: “Yasser Arafat’s life reflects the vicissitudes of fortune and the tragic history endured by the Palestinian people and the Middle East as a whole. For many people he embodied their hopes for peace, but also their repeated disappointments and setbacks.” Fischer also stated that everything must now be done for an orderly transfer of power. “Of vital importance is a leadership, legitimated by elections in the near future, that remains committed to a fair peace settlement,” Fischer said. November 11, 2004 Link
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