UNCLAS ABUJA 001892

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL NI ECOWAS
SUBJECT: ECOWAS: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

REF: RICE-TANDJA LETTER 29 JULY 2005


1. The Ambassador presented the letter from S to the
Executive Secretary of ECOWAS designating him as her "Special
Representative to ECOWAS" on October 3. The short ceremony
was also attended by the DCM, DATT, and PolMilOff and by the
Deputy Executive Secretary for Political Affairs, Defense,
and Security and the Financial Controller from ECOWAS.


2. Following the presentation by the Ambassador, the
Executive Secretary made a response accepting the Secretary's
letter (text below, original will be forwarded to the
Department by unclassified pouch) and there was a short photo
session.


3. Text of statement by the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS:

Your Excellency,

I am informed by the United States Secretary of State, Her
Excellency, Condoleeza Rice, to appoint you as the Permanent
Representative of the Government of the United States of
America to the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS).

I wish to express my appreciation to the Government of the
United States of America for this gesture which will, I am
certain, not only reinforce the cooperation between the
United States of America and ECOWAS but also further
strengthen the ties between our respective peoples.

It is my sincere hope that your appointment will encourage
the development of initiatives and realisation of projects
aimed at accelerating the pace of integration in the
sub-region, for the greater well-being of the West African
peoples.

I trust that your tenure as Permanent Representative of the
Government of the United States of America to ECOWAS will
witness a further expansion and deepening of the United
States of America and ECOWAS.

Permit me to congratulate you on your accreditation which, I
am certain, is in recognition of your personal merit, and to
assure you of my full cooperation and the readiness of my
colleagues to assist you in any way which might contribute to
the success of your mission.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Signed,
Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas
Executive Secretary

End text of statement.
CAMPBELL