KAZAKHSTAN: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT

UNCLAS ASTANA 002190 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CRS (NATALIE CHAGNON),S/ES-O, SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV TO PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA REF: STATE 118942 ¶1. Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev has sent a congratulatory letter to President-elect Obama. Post believes that the original is being delivered through the Kazakhstani Embassy in Washington. Post has obtained a copy of letter, which we have translated from Kazakh to English. The translation is provided in para 2 below. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT President of the Republic of Kazakhstan November 5, 2008 Ak Orda, Astana Your Excellency, I congratulate you sincerely on behalf of the people of the Republic of Kazakhstan and myself for a convincing victory in your election as president of the United States of America. Relations between our countries began with large-scale cooperation in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and developed to the level of a very important strategic partnership for stability and the development of democracy in Central Asia. Our relations strengthened even more due to our joint efforts in the stabilization of Iraq and reconstruction of Afghanistan. We are grateful to the United States for its support of Kazakhstan's 2010 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It proves our commitment to the principles spelled out in our "Charter on Democratic Partnership." The most important factor in our relations is the partnership designed to support private business and investment and the supply of energy resources to meet the demands of the expanding global market. In the humanitarian sphere, we are united by common traditions of religious tolerance and interethnic accord. I believe that partnership relations between Kazakhstan and the United States based on friendship and mutual trust will further develop and strengthen the well-being of our peoples. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you good health and success in your responsible work, and wish peace, well-being, and prosperity to the people of the United States of America. With Best Regards, Nursultan Nazarbayev His Excellency Barak Obama President-elect of the United States of America Washington, DC END TEXT HOAGLAND