CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PORTUGUESE ASSEMBLY

UNCLAS LISBON 002729 SIPDIS FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES/-O AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC OVIP PO PREL SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PORTUGUESE ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT JAIME GAMA REF: STATE 118192 The following congratulatory letter was passed to post by Portuguese Assembly President Jaime Gama, to President-elect Obama. The letter was received in both English and Portuguese. Only the English version follows. Begin Text: For the election of the President and the Congress of the United States of America The election of Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America makes History in his country and gives hope to many people in the whole world. Few were the times when an electoral process was so intensely followed by millions of people who were not directly involved in it. This says a lot about the meaning of the great North-American nation in the area of international relations and about the strong stability and the vitality of its democracy. On the Elected President Barack Obama and the 111th Congress of the United States, whose election took place on the same day, weigh great expectations of needed change, which hopefully will be fulfilled. The Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, invoking the old ties of friendship between the Portuguese and the American peoples, congratulates the Elected President and Vice-President, Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as the Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States of America ) especially those who have Portuguese ancestry or represent large communities of Portuguese origin ) and wishes them every success in the performance of their functions. End of text. BALLARD