Foreign leaders have sent messages of condolence to the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party, President, government and people of the Lao PDR
on the passing of former President Nouhak Phoumsavanh.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a message sent on September 11 to
the Secretary General of the Executive Committee of the Lao People's
Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao PDR Choummaly Sayasone “I
was sad to learn of the passing of Comrade Nouhak Phoumsavanh. On
behalf of the Party, government and Chinese people, I would like to
express deep condolences to you and through you to the Party,
government and people of the Lao PDR and the family of President
Nouhak Phoumsavanh.

“Comrade Nouhak Phoumsavanh was a revolutionary and senior leader of
the Lao PDR and a close friend of the Chinese people. He made great
contributions to the cause of national liberation and construction,
and strived to develop friendly Laos-China ties. The death of Comrade
Nouhak Phoumsavanh is a great loss to the Party, government and people
of the Lao PDR. China expresses deepest sympathy on the loss of a
loved and respected friend.”

On the same day, the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, President and
government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam sent a message of
condolence to the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the
Lao People's Revolutionary Party, National Assembly, President and
government of the Lao PDR.

The message read “Comrade Nouhak Phoumsavanh was one of the founders
of the Party; he was an outstanding leader, a good offspring of the
Lao ethnic people and a brave, revolutionary fighter. Throughout his
life he devoted himself to the cause of national liberation and the
prosperity of the nation for the freedom and well-being of the Lao
people. He was the closest friend of the Vietnamese people.

“He made great contributions to construction, improvements and
development of the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive
cooperation between Vietnam and Laos . The death of Comrade Nouhak
Phoumsavanh is a great loss to the Party, government, Lao people, and
his family.

“The Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, President, the government and
all people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam would like to share
their sympathy with the Executive Committee of the Central Committee
of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the National Assembly,
President, the government and people of the Lao PDR and Comrade Nouhak
Phoumsavanh's family.”

The President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea , Kim Yong Nam , also sent a
message of condolence to Lao President Choummaly Sayasone to express
his condolences on the death of former President Nouhak Phoumsavanh.

In his message Kim Yong Nam said upon hearing the sad news of the
death of the former president of the Lao PDR, he wished to express his
deep condolences to the Lao President and, through him, to the
government and people of Laos and the bereaved family of President
Nouhak.

In a condolence message sent to President Choummaly Sayasone on
September 11, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said “I would like
to express my respect for the former President Nouhak Phoumsavanh, who
built the foundation for the current relations between Laos and
Japan .”

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura also sent a message of
condolence to Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith.

King of Thailand Bhumibal R. sent a message of condolence to President
Choummaly Sayasone.

The message read “The Queen and I have learnt with deep sorrow of the
demise of His Excellency Mr Nouhak Phoumsavanh, former President of
the Lao People's Democratic Republic. We wish to express to the people
of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and especially to Madame
Bounma Phoumsavanh and members of her family our sincere sympathy and
condolences on the loss of such a prominent leader of the Lao nation
and a good friend of Thailand .”

Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand also sent a message to President
Choummaly Sayasone to express her deep sympathies to him and the Lao
people on their great loss.

By Vientiane Times
(Latest Update September 15, 2008)