Cablegate: Official Congratulatory Message and Invitation to The

VZCZCMZI764
PP RUEHC
DE RUEHMZ #0373 3231022
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181022Z NOV 08
FM AMCONSUL MUNICH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4568

UNCLAS MUNICH 000373

DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AND EUR/AGS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP PGOV ASEC GM
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE AND INVITATION TO THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT FROM BAVARIAN MINISTER PRESIDENT HORST SEEHOFER

REF: STATE 118192

1. Consulate Munich received a congratulatory message to
President-Elect Barack Obama dated November 5 from Horst Seehofer,
Minister President of Bavaria. The letter includes an invitation to
the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy (MSC), February 6-8,
2009. The conference regularly attracts high-level politicians,
ministers, and scholars for open discussion on global security
issues. The U.S. Delegation has in the past been headed by the
Secretary of Defense and has included a Congressional Delegation led
by Senators Lieberman and McCain. A hard copy of the letter and
invitation was sent to S/ES-CR on November 18. Below is the
informal translation of the letter's text.

2. Begin Text:

Dear Senator Obama,

I am sending you my heartfelt congratulations from Bavaria on the
occasion of your recent success in the Presidential elections.

I wish you luck in your endeavors, God's blessing and much success
in organizing the future of your country and in taking on the
leading role of the United States in World politics.

Your overwhelming election victory will start a new era of
transatlantic cooperation. The American voters have set a clear
signal for political change. Europe needs the U.S. as a strong
partner in the World, and the U.S. needs Europe.

The World's leading security conference will take place in the
Bavarian capital of Munich beginning of February 2009. It offers
the American President an excellent opportunity to introduce his
foreign and security policy initiatives to a high-ranking and
professional audience on European grounds. I would be pleased, if
we could welcome you on this occasion here in Bavaria.

Sincerely yours,
(signed) Horst Seehofer

The Honorable
Barack Obama
The President Elect
Washington

End text.

3. This message has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin.

NELSON

© Scoop Media