INDEPENDENCE DAY CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO SECRETARY RICE

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000640 SIPDIS FOR AF AND S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC DJ SUBJECT: INDEPENDENCE DAY CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO SECRETARY RICE ¶1. (U) The following message was faxed to U.S. Embassy on July 6 from Acting Foreign Minister Hawa Ahmed Youssouf to Secretary Rice. The original letter will be pouched upon receipt to the Desk. ¶2. (U) Begin text: Excellency, On behalf of the government and the people of Djibouti and on my own, I am pleased to extend, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the United States of America, my warmest congratulations to you and to the American government and people. On this auspicious day, I convey to your people my best wishes of prosperity and progress and I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you the willingness of the Djiboutian Government to further strengthen the relations of friendship and cooperation existing between our two countries. Please accept, Your Excellency and dear colleague, the assurances of my highest consideration. (Signed) Hawa Ahmed Youssouf Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs End text. RAGSDALE