LETTER OF CONDOLENCE SENT TODAY BY
 PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRÉTIEN TO
 PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA OF
THE KINGDOM OF NEPAL

June 2, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Attached is the text of a letter of condolence sent today by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of the Kingdom of Nepal on the tragic deaths of Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other members of the Nepalese Royal Family.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

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Dear Prime Minister:

My wife Aline joins me in expressing our sincere condolences to you, your Government and the people of Nepal on the tragic deaths of Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah and other members of the Royal Family.

Canada and Nepal have a long and close relationship. The people of Canada join you in mourning the loss of your beloved King and Queen. Their Majesties were renowned for their support of development initiatives in Nepal. I was pleased to hear of the Queen’s warm reception by children and staff when she inaugurated only a few weeks ago the Canadian-sponsored Child Haven International orphanage in Kathmandu. The King worked tirelessly to bring a new constitution in 1990 which has lead to a democratically elected government and multiparty Parliament in Nepal.

Their Majesties will be remembered fondly in your country and around the world. My thoughts are with you and the people of Nepal during this sad and difficult moment of your history.

(ORIGINAL SIGNED BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JEAN CHRÉTIEN)