OFFICIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE HONORABLE

UNCLAS NIAMEY 001073 DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AF/FO, AF/RSA AND AF/W FROM AMBASSADOR ALLEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP NG SUBJECT: OFFICIAL CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA REF: STATE 118192 1.Embassy Niamey received from His Excellency President of the Republic of Niger Mamadou Tandja the following congratulatory letter (Presidential Note 122 dated 06 November 2008) for delivery to the Honorable President-Elect Barack Obama. ¶2. (Begin text) The Honorable Mr. President-Elect Barack Obama, The American citizens just overwhelmingly accorded you their confidence to become the 44th President of the United States of America. This victory, both historic and stunning, is not only the triumph of American democracy, but also the consecration of the great determination that you have consistently shown to serve your people and to direct America towards a better future. I would like to address you, in the name of the Government, the Nigerien people and myself, my very hearty congratulations, as well as my wishes for success in the accomplishment of your high mission. Niger and the United States maintain exemplary relations, thanks to which fruitful cooperation continues to develop and become consistently more active in many domains of common interest. In this regard, I would like to express my pleasure in being able to work with you to consolidate these relations, in order to realize yet other major initiatives that will mark and reflect even more the exemplary friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. It is also with the same enthusiasm that I assure you of my complete availability to work in concert with you in reaffirming enduring ties with a stamp of confidence and intensification of exchanges between our two countries on the international scale, with an aim of promoting peace and progress in the world. In reiterating to you my congratulations and best wishes, I ask that you accept, Monsieur le President-elect, the assurances of my highest esteem. Mamadou Tandja President of the Republic of Niger (End text) ALLEN