| WORLD LEADERS REACT TO THE DEATH OF SIMON WIESENTHAL "Mr. Wiesenthal's efforts to pursue justice for the victims of the Holocaust sent an important message to theworld that there should be no impunity for genocide and crimes against humanity.'' - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. "The work of Mr. Wiesenthal and the organization that bears his name has had a significantinfluence on Canada and has contributed to the creation of our own War Crimes Program, designed to examine all allegations concerning the presence in Canada of suspected warcriminals from either the World War II era or more recent conflicts. Canada stands with others to acknowledge the immeasurable contribution this man has made to the fight againstimpunity and for accountability for the most serious crimes. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, including its Toronto office, the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for HolocaustStudies, will ensure that his voice continues to be heard." - Canadian Prime MinisterPaul Martin "With the passing of Simon Wiesenthal we have lost someone who fought untiringly against forgetting. Hisphilosophy of life centred around justice rather than revenge. I am deeply affected by his death. In spite of his personal experiences, Wiesenthal’s attitude was to remainwatchful at all times and through this watchfulness to ensure that the most terrible epoch in our history can never be repeated in any way. We will continue to honour him and hiswork." - Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel "A tireless campaigner for justice and rights." - French President Jacques Chirac "The name of Simon Wiesenthal ... will live on.'' - Austrian President Heinz Fischer. "He represented the morality of humanity; he represented the free world, the democratic world. He devoted hislife to fighting racism, anti-Semitism, Nazism and he really contributed to making a better world for the next generation." - Israeli President MosheKatsav "Simon was a lion of a man, a survivor and a conqueror, a hero in every sense of the word. He sufferedunspeakable hardships in the Nazi death camps but he did not let them break his spirit or compromise his will to live...he spoke for those who could no longer speak and he honoredtheir memory by bringing their persecutors to justice. His courage, his determination and his ability to rise above the horrors of the holocaust and become its hero will never beforgotten. The Simon Wiesenthal Center will keep that memory alive." - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "An indefatigable man moved by conviction that for the common good one has to search for truth." -Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski "Humanity is poorer because a just man, Simon Wiesenthal, is gone." - Hungarian Prime Minister FerencGyurcsany "Simon Wiesenthal will forever be rightly credited with ensuring justice was done for some of the worst crimesin history...He was tireless in his efforts and he gave the Jewish communities in the UK and around the world a lifetime of service, and future generations will forever beindebted to him. His important work will be continued by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, ensuring that his name and legacy are preserved. The name Simon Wiesenthal will forever besynonymous with justice and fostering tolerance and understanding." - UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw "Simon Wiesenthal devoted his life to rooting out anti-Semitism, intolerance and other forms of injustice acrossthe globe. He taught us never to forget the horrors of the past and reminded us of our responsibility to see all people as members of one human family. We are proud that New Yorkis home to the Simon Wiesenthal Tolerance Center. On a daily basis, the Center keeps Simon Wiesenthal's legacy alive by working to end anti-Semitism and prejudice against all. Thethoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers are with the Wiesenthal family, and all of his friends and colleagues during this difficult time." - New York Governor GeorgeE. Pataki "Simon Wiesenthal, like few others ... personally felt the shadow of history in its brutality. ... Despite this,I was always touched by the fact that he was not bitter and fought for justice admirably.'' - Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl |