Robin Cook

The Advertiser: Cook a 'friend of Australia': Downer :

"AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Sunday he was saddened by the death of former British foreign secretary Robin Cook, calling him a friend of Australia."

Robin Cook was well liked and well respected by different nations and many people, all of whom are speaking out now. He took a strong stand with others on the invasion of Iraq, he worked hard to bring the Kosovans some semblance of sanity in their lives and he had good relations with key people in other nations. In other words, he was a man of conviction, a person of substance and very genuinely a good politician. He was able to articlate well considered and well founded views in an intelligent fashion. The efforts to besmirch him were ill founded since he married the woman concerned. So many people marry one person and then meet their second partner during the course of living. He was with Gaynor walking when he was taken ill. I am certain Britain will be the poorer for not having him since he was able to think in a clear headed,precise manner and reasoned well. There are other politicians of that ilk, but we need all the ballast we can get at the moment to keep the ship of humanity steady. A sad loss since his politics was very much about resolving people issues..