World governments honour a great man HA NOI (VNS)- Foreign media and public opinions in recent days have shown that General Vo Nguyen Giap, who passed away last Friday at the age of 103, will live forever in the memories of friends from foreign shores. The Government of Laos yesterday sent their commiserations to Viet Nam and the family and friends of General Giap over his passing, saying that they were deeply saddened by the news. They said the General had played an active, significant role in fostering the friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Viet Nam and Laos. They added that they had lost a "great friend" of the Party, Government and people of Laos, but stated their belief that Viet Nam would turn this great loss into a source of strength to continue its mission in constructing, protecting and developing the country in line with its socialist ideology. On Sunday, President of the Cambodian National Assembly and President of the Senate of Cambodia Chea Sim also sent a letter of condolence to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnamese Central Committee of the Party. On behalf of the Cambodia People's Party, the people of Cambodia and as an individual, Chea Sim said he would like to extend his condolences to the people of Viet Nam and General Giap's family. He stated that he was praying for the General to rest forever in peace. The Government of Singapore has also declared its sadness at Vo Nguyen Giap's passing. In a statement issued on Sunday, the country's Foreign Ministry declared that "General Giap played a pivotal role in Viet Nam's fight for independence". According to the Singaporean Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Viet Nam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to express his condolences on the country's loss. In a special announcement made on Saturday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius lauded General Giap as a "great patriot and a great soldier of Viet Nam," as well as an "extraordinary person." He extended his condolences to the General's family and the people of Viet Nam. The Uruguayan Ministry of External Relations on Sunday announced President Jose Mujica's message of condolence extended to President Truong Tan Sang over the death of the "legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap." In his letter, President Mujica stated that General Giap was the one who fostered Vietnamese independence due to his position as an exceptional strategist, an inspirer of freedom worldwide and a man who said the human factor is the key to victory. He also said that the sorrow he felt after learning of the death of the General will not lessen his belief in the values that he fought for. His military ideologies will continue to be the magnet for the building of guerrilla forces in national struggles for liberation, peace and equality in Latin America, he noted. Secretary General of the United Left Movement of the Dominican Republic Miguel Mejia has extended his condolences to leaders of the Communist Party of Viet Nam over the death of General Giap. In his message, Mejia said the legendary military mastermind will always be remembered as an outstanding tactician who helped Viet Nam gain independence in 1945 under President Ho Chi Minh's guidance. General Giap's passing is a great loss to not only the Vietnamese people but also the world's revolutionary movements, he said. He added that the General's devotion and sacrifice will always inspire those struggling for freedom, happiness and peace across the world. Russian Senior Lieutenant General, Professor and Doctor of Military Science Khiupenhen Anatoli Ivanovich said he felt deeply sad at the news of the loss of his friend, General Vo Nguyen Giap. The Russian General described the deceased as the pride of the Vietnamese nation, calling him the right-hand man of President Ho Chi Minh. The Dien Bien Phu victory was the Vietnamese version of the Stalingrad victory, he said. He also recalled a visit to the Viet Nam Army Museum during which Russian military experts expressed their admiration for the wisdom of the General, who never had any official military training. - VNS