Cablegate: Thai Prime Minister's Congratulatory Message To

VZCZCXRO3378
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #3298 3100836
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050836Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4920
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003298

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAI PRIME MINISTER'S CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO
PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

1. (U) On November 5, the Embassy hosted a gathering for Thai
contacts and students to watch television coverage of the
U.S. presidential election, engage with the Ambassador and
Embassy officers, and learn more about the U.S. democratic
system. (Septel will report on the election watch event in
greater detail.) Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat attended,
made brief remarks about the importance of elected democracy
and the importance of the U.S. to Thailand, and provided the
Ambassador with a congratulatory letter to President-elect
Obama. We have e-mailed a scanned copy of the letter to
EAP/MLS and will forward the original by pouch. The text of
the letter follows:

BEGIN TEXT

5 November B.E. 2551 (2008)

Dear Honorable Sen. Obama,

I have the honor to extend the most heartfelt congratulations
from the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand
on your victory in the Presidential election on 4 November
2008. Cherishing democracy and its values, Thailand has
followed this exciting election campaign with great interest.
It was inspiring to see history in the making and the
workings of democracy at its best.

I wish you all the best and great success with your new
endeavors. With your past experience in Southeast Asia, I
look forward to seeing the United States under your
leadership enhance its meaningful role in the region. As a
treaty ally and longtime friend, Thailand stands ready to
work with you and your Administration to further strengthen
the close friendship between our two countries and peoples.
As the current Chair of ASEAN, Thailand is firmly determined
to work with the United States and ASEAN colleagues towards a
more vigorous and fruitful US-ASEAN partnership.

Please accept, Honorable, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

//S//
(Somchai Wongsawat)
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand

END TEXT

JOHN

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