Remarks by Ambassador Rick Barton, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council, during the United Nations General Assembly Tribute to the Memory of His Excellency Lech Kaczynski, President of the Republic of Poland

Ambassador Rick Barton
U.S. Representative for Economic and Social Affairs 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations 

New York, NY

April 15, 2010

AS DELIVERED

Thank you Mr. President. On behalf of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the American people, it is with great sorrow that I offer our deepest condolences to the government and the people of Poland for their tragic loss. President Kaczynski will be long remembered and sorely missed. He played a key role in the solidarity movement and the advancement of democracy in his country. He was a champion of freedom and human rights not just in Poland but around the world. The loss of the president, his wife Maria, and numerous distinguished senior public servants who helped to shape Poland’s inspiring democratic transformation is an enormous tragedy that is felt deeply by all of us. The United States joins the international community and the people of Poland in mourning the untimely passing. Let their inspirational leadership in memory of their courageous sacrifice guide Poland and the world toward the advancement of human freedom, equality and dignity for all.

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