Some CIS states express condolences on Arafat’s death

The Xinhua News Agency, China
November 11, 2004 Thursday

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko sent a telegram to
the Palestinian leadership expressing condolences on the death of
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the Itar-Tass news agency reported
on Thursday.

In his telegram Lukashenko said that Yasser Arafat was a wise and
outstanding politician, and he had a high prestige in the whole
Arab world.

“We’ll remember him forever,” he said.

Meanwhile, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in his telegram on
Thursday to interim Palestinian head Ruhi Fatouh on the death of
Yasser Arafat said he praised Arafat’s contribution to the protection
of Palestinians’ rights.

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov expressed condolences to the
Palestinian government, the PLO Executive Committee and the Palestinian
administration on the death of Yasser Arafat, Itar- Tass said.

In his telegram on Thursday Niyazov said “on behalf of the people and
the government of Turkmenistan I convey our sincere sympathies on
the death of the outstanding leader of the Palestinian people, his
excellence Mr. Yasser Arafat. I want to express my condolences and
convey my sympathies to the family of deceased Arafat. I pray Allah
to give Palestine strength in order to overcome this serious loss.”

Yasser Arafat, 75, Palestinian leader, passed away in Paris on
Thursday morning.