Statement by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen following the death of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh on 11.9.2003

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press Release 11 September 2003

I am shocked and sad at the death of Anna Lindh. I commiserate with her family in their grief. Anna Lindh’s passing is a loss to Sweden and to all of us.

I got to know Anna Lindh more closely when she became the Foreign Minister of Sweden in 1998. Our cooperation went very well. I remember her as a skilled person who was dedicated to her task. Human warmth was always reflected in her actions.

It was important to Anna Lindh that all people could lead their everyday lives without fear. Her death is a blow to our open society and our Nordic way of life.

Anna Lindh’s work remained unfinished, but we shall carry it on. In this, I shall try to make my own contribution.