LETTER TO WHA ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON FROM

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001552 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA A/S THOMAS SHANNON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM SMIG KCRM SNAR GT SUBJECT: LETTER TO WHA ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON FROM VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REF: A. GUATEMALA 1521 ¶B. GUATEMALA 1451 ¶1. Embassy received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) regarding the Central American Integration System (SICA) Vice Ministerial on regional security held in Guatemala July 17-18 (ref A). The MFA expressed appreciation for the participation of the U.S. delegation, in particular that of WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon and requested that the letter below from Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Fernando Andrade Falla be sent to the Assistant Secretary. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT (non-translated) Guatemala City, July 24, 2007 Dear Mr. Shannon, I wanted to thank you for the valuable participation that your team and specially your kind self, added to the "SICA Dialogue on Regional Security," which took place on the 17th and 18th of this month, to which, as you know, we were also accompanied by a Mexican delegation. I truly believe that the outcome of this meeting represents a first solid and positive step in the right direction towards greater cooperation and better coordination in regional security matters. Without a doubt, there will be challenges ahead, that I am sure will be overcome with the marked goodwill made public by all those involved. I would like to express to you the assurances of my high esteem and personal appreciation. Luis Fernando Andrade Falla Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs END TEXT Derham