Ambassador Dr. John Ashe addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday

Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. John W. Ashe, delivered an address to the 191 member States of the United Nations during Wednesday's tributes by the General Assembly to the memories of the late King of Saudi Arabia, the former Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and the former Vice-President of Sudan.

Speaking to the Assembly in his capacity as Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of member States to the UN, the Ambassador paid tribute to the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who died on August 1, as "a man of great vision and leadership, who was held in high esteem across the Arab and Muslim worlds because of his role as the custodian of the two holy mosques -the major shrines of Islam in Mecca and Medina." He said that with his passing, the international community will truly miss an active and effective player on the global diplomatic scene, who never hesitated to use his diplomatic and mediation skills in time of crisis.

In his tribute to the late Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Ambassador Ashe spoke of his region's shock and dismay at the assassination of the Foreign Minister on August 3. The Ambassador stated that the entire region concurred "fully with the condemnation by the UN Security Council of this senseless act of terrorism," and praised the Foreign Minister as "an ardent advocate and courageous champion for a secular and united Sri Lanka ..who dedicated his life to the search for peace and for a better life for the Sri Lankan people."

Ambassador Ashe also paid tribute to the memory of the late Vice-President of Sudan, Mr. John Garang, by conveying the collective condolences and sympathies of the Latin American and Caribbean region to the government and people of the Sudan and the bereaved family of the late Vice-President. (Ends)

Digital Photos by the United Nations