NEW HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER SENDS LETTER TO

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001513 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR WHA, WHA/CEN, AND S/ES-CR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC PGOV HO SUBJECT: NEW HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER SENDS LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE; SECRETARY'S JULY 12 LETTER DELIVERED SIPDIS Ref: State 129020 ¶1. Honduran Foreign Minister Mario Fortin, under cover of a July 11 diplomatic note, sent the Embassy a letter dated July 6 to Secretary Rice. The letter was sent by the MFA prior to the July 14 delivery of the July 12 letter from the Secretary (reftel) under cover letter from the Ambassador. SIPDIS Post is faxing original of FM Fortin's letter to the Secretary to WHA/CEN. Unofficial Embassy translation of the SIPDIS letter follows. ¶2. Begin unofficial Embassy translation: SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SIPDIS REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. July 6, 2005 Madam Secretary: I have the honor of greeting Your Excellency on the occasion of expressing my best wishes on your appointment as Secretary of State of the United States of America. SIPDIS My wish is to strengthen the ties that exist between our two nations, working towards harmony and the further development of democratic institutions, as well for the preservation of peace. In the hope that I may be able to greet you personally in the future, I avail myself of this opportunity to extend to Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. /s/ SEAL Mario Alberto Fortin Midence Secretary of State SIPDIS Her Excellency Condolezza Rice Secretary of State of the United States of America SIPDIS ¶3. End unofficial Embassy translation. TUEBNER