SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES SHOCK AT TRAGIC DEATH OF UNITED STATES

SENATOR WELLSTONE, PERSONAL FRIEND AND UNITED NATIONS SUPPORTER

This is the text of a statement this afternoon from Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The sudden and tragic death of Senator Paul Wellstone, along with his wife, his daughter and several campaign workers, comes as a personal shock to me.

He was among the first to greet me on my initial visit to Washington as Secretary-General in 1997 and joined me on two occasions when I visited his home state of Minnesota.

He was a profoundly decent man, a man of principle, a man of conscience.  His passing is a loss not only for his family, friends and constituents, but also for friends of the United Nations.

I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones he leaves behind.

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