Cablegate: Congratulatory Message From Portuguese President

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #2701 3151506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101506Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7147

UNCLAS LISBON 002701

SIPDIS

FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O AND EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP PO
SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT
TO PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA

REF: STATE 118942

The following is an informal translation of congratulatory
letter from Portuguese President Cavaco Silva to
President-elect Obama. Original letter was sent to the
Portuguese Embassy in Washington for delivery. We received a
courtesy copy of original text which will be transmitted by
fax to EUR/WE.

Begin text:

Lisbon, November 04, 2008

The Honorable
Barack Obama
The President-elect
Washington

Dear Mr. President-elect,

On the occasion of your election as President of the United
States of America I would like to transmit, in my name and in
the name of the Portuguese people, warmest congratulations as
well as sincere wishes for success in serving the high office
for which the American people have so clearly chosen you.

I am confident that during your term in office the ties of
friendship that bind Portugal and the United States of
America, and the close cooperation that symbolizes our
bilateral relations in many different areas, will find new
opportunities for reinforcement and growth. In this context,
allow me also to underscore the role of the large Portuguese
and Portuguese-descendent community residing in the United
States, an important link between our two nations.

I am certain that your actions will constitute a vital
contribution to the necessary coordination of efforts at the
international level imposed by the challenges that the world
is facing. Only in this way can we overcome the problems
with which we are confronted, and take advantage of the
opportunities offered to us.

Allow me, Mr. President-elect, to congratulate you once again
and to convey my sincere wishes for your personal happiness
and for the prosperity and progress of the good people of the
United States of America.

With my best regards,

/s/

Anibal Cavaco Silva
President of the Portuguese Republic

End of text.

STEPHENSON

© Scoop Media