Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Richard Holbrooke

Statement

oday Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the passing of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan:

"Today the country mourns the loss of one of our brightest foreign policy minds, and I mourn the loss of a good friend and colleague. A tireless public servant, Richard Holbrooke dedicated his life to advancing the cause of peace and freedom across the globe -- and he literally served in every corner of the world. His career ran the gamut from Peace Corps Director in Morocco to helping establish full diplomatic relations with China as an Assistant Secretary of State. Ambassador Holbrooke played a central role in ending the Bosnian war and was serving our country as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan when he passed away.

"It was in this role that Ambassador Holbrooke and I forged a close friendship, working together on legislation to create jobs and increase stability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He was second to none in his field, and it was with that in mind that the President asked him to take on one of the most daunting tasks in international affairs today. He was genuinely committed to forging peace and stability in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. He will be deeply missed both professionally and personally, but his legacy as a true giant in the world of foreign affairs will live on."

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