FOREIGN MINISTER BRIZ'S RESPONSE TO SECRETARY'S

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000233 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL GT SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER BRIZ'S RESPONSE TO SECRETARY'S LETTER REF: STATE 9439 ¶1. On January 30, the Embassy received a letter from Foreign Minister Jorge Briz (dated January 23) responding to the Secretary's letter congratulating Briz on being named Foreign SIPDIS Minister. The original letter is being pouched to WHA/CEN. Following is an Embassy translation of Foreign Minister Briz's letter to the Secretary. ¶2. (begin translation) Guatemala, January 23, 2004 His Excellency Mr. Colin L. Powell Secretary of State SIPDIS Washington D.C., United States of America Your Excellency Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to greet Your Excellency and to say that I received your kind note of January 14, in which you congratulate me on being named Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, and expressing your desire that the relations between our two countries and peoples increase and improve. I want to thank You Excellency for your kind gesture, and take this opportunity to express the testimony of my highest and most distinguished consideration. (signed) Jorge Briz Abularach Minister of Foreign Affairs (end translation. HAMILTON