OFFICIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE AND INVITATION TO THE

UNCLAS MUNICH 000373 DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AND EUR/AGS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP PGOV ASEC GM SUBJECT: OFFICIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE AND INVITATION TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT FROM BAVARIAN MINISTER PRESIDENT HORST SEEHOFER REF: STATE 118192 ¶1. Consulate Munich received a congratulatory message to President-Elect Barack Obama dated November 5 from Horst Seehofer, Minister President of Bavaria. The letter includes an invitation to the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy (MSC),February 6-8, ¶2009. The conference regularly attracts high-level politicians, ministers, and scholars for open discussion on global security issues. The U.S. Delegation has in the past been headed by the Secretary of Defense and has included a Congressional Delegation led by Senators Lieberman and McCain. A hard copy of the letter and invitation was sent to S/ES-CR on November 18. Below is the informal translation of the letter's text. ¶2. Begin Text: Dear Senator Obama, I am sending you my heartfelt congratulations from Bavaria on the occasion of your recent success in the Presidential elections. I wish you luck in your endeavors, God's blessing and much success in organizing the future of your country and in taking on the leading role of the United States in World politics. Your overwhelming election victory will start a new era of transatlantic cooperation. The American voters have set a clear signal for political change. Europe needs the U.S. as a strong partner in the World, and the U.S. needs Europe. The World's leading security conference will take place in the Bavarian capital of Munich beginning of February 2009. It offers the American President an excellent opportunity to introduce his foreign and security policy initiatives to a high-ranking and professional audience on European grounds. I would be pleased, if we could welcome you on this occasion here in Bavaria. Sincerely yours, (signed) Horst Seehofer The Honorable Barack Obama The President Elect Washington End text. ¶3. This message has been coordinated with Embassy Berlin. NELSON