"THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT" -- LESOTHO'S MONARCH SPEAKS

UNCLAS MASERU 000281 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN; DEPT FOR AF/S - L. MUNCY; S/GAC FOR AMBASSADOR DYBUL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KMCA LT SUBJECT: "THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT" -- LESOTHO'S MONARCH SPEAKS ¶1. (SBU) In a May 16 farewell call on Lesotho's King Letsie III, His Majesty expressly asked Ambassador Perry to convey to President Bush a sincere "Thank You" for his PEPFAR and Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) initiatives. The King stated his gratitude for the increases in PEPFAR funding to assist Lesotho in combatting HIV/AIDS (as it has the world's third highest rate of infection). He also said he understood the bilateral MCA negotiations had gone well; he looked forward to completion of final details and potential mid-year compact signing. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Perry thanked the King for his gracious compliments on the excellent state of bilateral relations and promised to forward his oral comments and personal thanks to the President via our channels of communication. ¶3. (SBU) Action Request: Post asks that Department/NSC please convey appropriately to POTUS content of King Letsie's comments. PERRY