Pyongyang, August 1 (KCNA) -- Progressive mankind deeply revered and praised President Kim Il Sung, a peerlessly great man, on the 17th anniversary of his demise.

Floral baskets were laid before his portraits in different countries and regions.

The king and the great king of Cambodia, the Foreign Ministry of Myanmar, the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), the Communist Party of Peru (Red Motherland), the Revolutionary Socialist Party of Peru, the People's Front of Workers, Peasants and Students of Peru, the Peruvian People's Women Union, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples and the American Regional Preparatory Committee for Commemorating the Centenary of Birth of President Kim Il Sung sent floral baskets to the DPRK embassies in relevant countries. The Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America laid a floral basket before the portrait of the smiling President.

Personages of various circles in different countries visited the DPRK missions and laid floral baskets and bouquets before the portraits of the President and made bows. They included the chairperson of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), the general secretary of the Arab Socialists' Movement of Syria, the general director for International Relations of the Iranian Workers' House, the chairman of the Preparatory Committee of Democratic Congo for Commemorating the Centenary of Birth of President Kim Il Sung, the chairman of the Nigerian National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea and the secretary general of the All-India Indo-Korean Friendship Association.

Statements were issued by the Movement for Peace and Socialism of Italy, the British Branch of the Korean Friendship Association, the chairman of the Central Committee of the Socialist Popular Party of Mexico, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the People's Vanguard of Costa Rica, the chairman of the Finland Mangyongdae Committee for Commemorating the Centenary of Birth of President Kim Il Sung, the chairman of the Bangladesh Group for the Study of the Songun Policy, the chairman of the Malta-Korea Friendship Association and other figures of political parties and organizations of different countries.

Praising the President as the most distinguished statesman in the 20th century recognized by the world, the statements said he is, indeed, an outstanding thinker and theoretician, invincible and iron-willed commander, peerlessly great man who greatly contributed to the national liberation movement in colonies and the cause of global independence and national hero who defended the destiny of Korea.

Seminars, remembrance meetings, lectures, book and photo exhibitions, film shows and other political and cultural events took place amid the growing yearnings for the President. The participants recalled with deep emotion the great life of the President who performed the undying feats which will shine long in human history.

The general secretary of the Central Committee of the Unified Communist Party of Italy said that 17 years have passed since the President passed away but he is boundlessly revered by progressive mankind for his feats for the Korean revolution and the world revolution.

The feats of the President who founded the immortal Juche idea to illumine the path of independence and advance for mankind will shine long for all ages, said the chairman of the Guinean National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea.

Foreign media reported about the boundless reverence of mankind for the President, the greatest man in the 20th century.

The Cuban paper Granma, the Russian paper Patriot, the German paper Rote Fahne, the Indonesian paper Suara Karya, the Ethiopian paper Daily Monitor, the Palestinian magazine Ilal Amam, the Internet homepage of the Korean Friendship Association, the Internet homepage of the International Alliance of Societies for the Study of the Juche Idea and Songun Policy in East European and Central Asian Regions and other media of various countries and international and regional organizations gave wide publicity to the feats of the President who built the fortress of independence in Korea and devoted his tireless efforts to winning a victory in the cause of global independence. His feats will shine long along with human history, they stressed.

The Preparatory Committee of Democratic Congo for Commemorating the Centenary of Birth of President Kim Il Sung, the Guinean National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea, the Ethiopian Youth Study Group of the Juche Idea, the Bangladesh Institute of the Juche Idea, the Kim Jong Suk Library in Peru, the Brazil-Korea Friendship Association, the Group of Youth for the Study of Kim Jong Il Juche Idea in Vienna, Austria, the Germany-DPRK Association and other organizations and bodies of different countries issued bulletins telling about the noble traits of the President who received party leaders and heads of state and prominent figures of many countries and worked heart and soul to build an independent new world.