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Murder of Pierre GEMAYEL: letter of condolence from M. Jacques CHIRAC, President of the Republic, to M. Amin GEMAYEL, former President of Lebanon
Paris, 22 November 2006
Dear Mr Gemayel,
At this time when you are going through what is for a man the greatest ordeal imaginable, I want to express to you my compassion and solidarity.
Your son was heir to a lineage for which commitment to Lebanon, her independence, democracy and freedom is the supreme value. He fell after many others, a victim of the image he embodied and his work for his country. I pay my last respects to his memory, expressing the hope that his assassins will be found quickly and punished. I extend my heartfelt condolences to your family, once again dealt such a cruel blow.
No one doubts that the aim of this heinous crime is to destabilize Lebanon by instilling the poison of discord and violence. In this respect, I was struck by the great dignity of your message appealing for unity and self-restraint on the evening of the tragedy. This is how the Lebanese will succeed in foiling the designs of those who are banking on their divisions to subjugate them.
In her distress, Lebanon must remember that she is not alone. The international community, and France in particular, are at her side for the constitution of the international tribunal that will put an end to the impunity, implement UNSCR 1701 which will restore the State's authority throughout the territory, and convene the international conference which will give a boost to the national reconstruction effort.
Tragedy after tragedy, a more united and mutually-supportive nation is being formed through the ordeals. Pierre Gemayel's death marks a new painful stage in this battle at the end of which the flame of hope still flickers.
(complimentary close, with handwritten addition).
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