PRESIDENT KOROMA INVITATION TO PRESIDENT BUSH TO

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000639 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC SL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KOROMA INVITATION TO PRESIDENT BUSH TO ATTEND NOVEMBER 16 INAUGURATION ¶1. The Government of Sierra Leone has announced that the inauguration of President Ernest Bai Koroma will take place in Freetown on November 15, 2007. Embassy Freetown has been asked to convey the following invitation from President Koroma to President George W. Bush, received October 24. The accompanying Note Verbal provides details of the event. See action request paragraph 2. BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER From Office of the President, Freetown, Sierra Leone 19th October H.E. Mr. George W. Bush President of the United States of America Your excellency: Invitation to the Inauguration of the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, in Freetown on the 15th of November 2007. It gives me great pleasure to invite you as my Special Guest to my Inauguration as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone following my recent election to that office. While I appreciate the heavy pressure on your schedule, I trust that you will find the time to honour me and the people of Sierra Leone at this special occasion with your presence. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration, Signed Ernest Bai Koroma President of the Republic of Sierra Leone END TEXT OF LETTER BEGIN TEXT OF ACCOMPANYING NOTE VERBALE Ref 3079/109 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of America and has the honour to inform that the Inauguration Ceremony of His Excellency, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone will take place on Thursday 15th November 2007 in Freetown. In this regard, the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone cordially invite His Excellency, Mr. George W. Bush, President of the United States of America to witness the occasion. The program commences at 10.00 a.m. at the National Stadium to be followed by a luncheon hosted by His Excellency the President at Parliament Building. The Ministry further wishes to request confirmation of His Excellency's attendance as well as providing information on the size of His Excellency's delegation, together with the time and date of arrival and departure to facilitate arrangements for board and accommodation. The Ministry will appreciate receiving the required information not later than 5th November, 2007. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. Freetown, 16th October 2007 END TEXT OF NOTE VERBALE. ¶2. Action request: Embassy Freetown will appreciate learning about the composition of a possible delegation so we may convey the information as requested. PRATT