Mr. Mitchell (Bahamas) I should like at the outset offer the condolences of The Right Honourable Parry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, as well as of the Government and the people of the Bahamas, to the people of the United States in connection with Hurricane Katrina, which claimed so many victims.

I also express to the ruling family and the people of the Principality of Monaco my country's deepest sympathies on the passing of Prince Rainier III.

I also take this opportunity to express the African Group's condolences following the accidental death of the Prime Minister of Georgia, His Excellency Mr. Zurab Zhvania.

President Duarte Frutos (spoke in Spanish) At the outset, I would like to express the condolences of the people of Paraguay over the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina.

I take this opportunity to convey the condolences and the deepest sympathy of my Government and people to the Government and the people of the United States of America, in particular to the families who lost loved ones.

May I also register my deepest grief over the tragic incidents in Kadhimiya, Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina, and also convey my condolences and sympathies to the victims and their loved ones.

Ms. Lintonen (Finland) At the outset, I would like to convey my delegation's deep condolences to the families of the victims of the bomb attacks that occurred yesterday in Jordan.

These two special envoys of the World Tourism Organization, who conveyed the international community's messages of condolence and solidarity, succeeded in accomplishing their mission of assessing the extent of the impact of the tsunami disaster on the tourism destinations

In conclusion, let me offer Malawi's deep condolences to President George Bush and to the Government and the people of the United States of America for the heavy loss of life and property due to Hurricane Katrina.

Ms. Smith (Australia) Please allow me to begin by again extending the Australian Government's condolences to the people affected by the South Asian earthquake, particularly in Pakistan.

Mr. Toro Jiménez (Venezuela) (spoke in Spanish) First of all, we wish to express the condolences of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the authorities of the Vatican and the Holy See as well as to Catholic peoples the world over.

Mr. Berruga (Mexico) (spoke in Spanish) At the outset, I would like to express to the people and Government of Jordan Mexico's deepest condolences and condemnation of the despicable terrorist attacks perpetrated two days ago in Amman.

President Fox (spoke in Spanish) I should like at the outset to express Mexico's sincere condolences to the people and the Government of the United States for the tragic loss of life and material damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Beck (Solomon Islands) I would like to begin by expressing the Solomon Islands' condolences to the Holy See on the passing away of Pope John Paul II and to the Principality of Monaco on the demise of Prince Rainer III.

Mr. Jenie (Indonesia) Let me begin by expressing the condolences of the people and the Government of Indonesia to the Holy See on the passing of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who died last week.

Let me take this opportunity to express to the Government and the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan my Government's deepest condolences in connection with the terrorist attack carried out in Amman yesterday, which caused serious casualties among innocent civilians.

Miss Majali (Jordan) On behalf of the delegation of Jordan, I should like to join others in expressing my country's condolences to the Government and the people of Indonesia with respect to the terrorist attacks in Bali.

We wish to join in reiterating our Government's condolences to the people and Governments of the countries of South East Asia and the east coast of Africa who were victims of the unprecedented devastation caused by the undersea earthquake.

Mr. Desmoures (Argentina) (spoke in Spanish) First of all, I should like to join previous speakers in expressing my country's sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Jordan for the terrorist attacks committed last Wednesday in the city of Amman.

Mr. Tesch (Australia) Let me begin by reiterating the Australian Government's deepest condolences to all those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis that struck the Indian Ocean region on 26 December.

President Gnassingbé (spoke in French) Allow me at the outset to extend once again to the Government and the people of the United States the deepest condolences and sympathy of the Government and the people of the Togolese Republic in connection with Hurricane Katrina, which caused great damage to that country.

Mr. Shalghem (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic) At the outset, I would like to express the condolences of the Libyan people and their leader, Colonel Muammar Al Qadhafi, to the people and Government of the United States of America for the tragedy spawned by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Adekanye (Nigeria) I would like to begin my remarks by expressing the deepest condolences of the people and the Government of Nigeria to the Holy See on the passing of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and also to the Principality of Monaco on the death of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III.

Mr. Baatar (Mongolia) At the outset, I would like to express the sincere condolences of my delegation to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See on the passing of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and to the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco on the sad demise of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III.

Allow me at the outset to sincerely convey the condolences of my Government to the Government and the people of Indonesia on the loss of life and property at the hands of international terrorists, who planned and carried out an inhuman suicide attack in Bali on 2 October 2005.

Mr. Kapoma (Zambia) Let me begin by conveying the condolences of my Government to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to its Government, to the families of those who lost their lives and to those who sustained injuries in the terrorist acts that befell that country two days ago.

Before proceeding with the agenda, the Chairman expressed to the representative of the Holy See the condolences of the Executive Committee for the loss of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, whom he described as one of the most remarkable men our time, a spiritual leader who fought with immense faith and profound conviction for world peace and human dignity.

Ms. Tahir Kheli (United States of America) I should like to begin by expressing to our colleagues from the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See, our colleagues from the Permanent Mission of Poland and indeed to all those who looked to Pope John Paul II as a spiritual guide my country's deepest sympathies on his passing.