CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001636 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O DEPT ALSO FOR NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP LE SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT REF: STATE 118192 ¶1. Following is the text of a letter received Friday, November 14, 2008 from Nabih Berry, President of the Lebanese National Assembly, to the President-elect. ¶2. Begin Text: H.E. Mr. Barack Obama President-elect of the United States of America Excellency: On behalf of the Lebanese National Assembly and on my own behalf, I extend to you my warmest congratulations on the occasion of your landslide victory in the US presidential elections. It is indeed a victory that goes beyond the borders of your country to the whole world which has impatiently waited for the triumph of democracy in your country over the unipolar concept. We, in the Middle East in general, and in Lebanon in particular, are waiting for a just and comprehensive peace and for Lebanon to restore Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shuba Hill and the Lebanese village of Al Ghajar, and are looking forward to clearing the Lebanese territory of cluster bombs and mines and to bringing an end to aggressions against its sovereignty and violations to its airspace and regional waters. We hope that you bring justice, peace and stability, for these are also elements of victory in the international combat against terrorism. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. /s/ Nabih Berry President of the Lebanese National Assembly Beirut, November 6, 2008 End text. ¶3. The original of the letter is being sent to S/ES-CR under registry number 9395900. SISON