NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GBAGBO

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000014 STATE FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AND AF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP IV SUBJECT: NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GBAGBO ¶1. Embassy received by fax a message from President Laurent Gbagbo to President Bush on the occasion of the New Year. Please find Embassy translation of the original French text in paragraph 2. ¶2. Begin translation of text. To His Excellency George Walker Bush President of the United States of America Washington Mister President: The celebration of the New Year 2009 gives me the pleasant opportunity to extend to you, on behalf of the Ivoirian people and government, and on my own behalf, my best wishes for a happy New Year. I am particularly happy to seize this pleasant opportunity to underline how much I appreciate the excellent quality of the relations of friendship and cooperation existing between the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire and the United States of America, as well as the delicate and very much appreciated attention that you have given to them throughout your two mandates at the highest office of your country. While expressing to you my profound gratitude, I would like to assure you of my determination to continue, with your successor, our striving for strengthening the links of friendship and cooperation that so fortunately unite our two countries, and our noble struggle for the triumph of our common ideals of justice, freedom and peace. With my highest consideration. Laurent Gbagbo President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire End translation of text. NESBITT