WIREC - GERMAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SENDS HIS

UNCLAS BERLIN 000270 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/ES-CR, G, EUR, AND OES STATE PLEASE PASS CEQ - CONNAUGHTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV TRGY PREL GM SUBJECT: WIREC - GERMAN ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SENDS HIS REGRETS TO SECRETARY RICE REF: BERLIN 218 ¶1. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry transmitted a letter dated February 25th to Embassy Berlin from German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel addressed to Secretary Rice. The original has been pouched to EUR/AGS for appropriate dissemination within the Department. An MFA-prepared courtesy translation of the letter follows below. ¶2. (SBU) Begin text of courtesy translation: Dear Madam Secretary, Thank you very much for your invitation to participate in the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) from 4 to 6 March, and for the opportunity to give an opening address. I would have liked to take up your invitation, but I just learned that I will be obliged to attend a meeting of the German Bundestag. I know that this is very unfortunate and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Regrettably, such rescheduling at short notice cannot always be avoided. Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Mueller will take part on my behalf. I wish the conference every success. Yours Sincerely, Sigmar Gabriel End text. KOENIG