CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT VENETIAAN TO

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000469 SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP NS SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT VENETIAAN TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT REF: SECSTATE 118192 ¶1. (U) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Suriname has sent Post His Excellency President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan's congratulatory message to President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama. The text of President Venetiaan's message reads verbatim as follows: "Mr. President-Elect, On behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Suriname, I wish to extend to you my warmest congratulations on your election as the new President of the United States of America. Without any doubt this historic election, based on your message of hope and change and against the background of the many challenges the World is currently facing, has given confidence, not only to the People of the United States of America, but also to the people beyond its borders. I seize this opportunity to express my wish for the further deepening and strengthening of the long-lasting bonds of friendship and cooperation on bilateral, regional as well as on multilateral level with the United States of America. Please accept, Mr. president-elect, the assurances of my highest consideration. RUNALDO RONALD VENETIAAN President of the Republic of Suriname Paramaribo, 11 November 2008 ¶2. (U) Post will forward to the Department via diplomatic pouch the hard copy of President Venetiaan's message. SCHREIBER HUGHES