RRT ERBIL: LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BARZANI TO THE SECRETARY

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 001789 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC IZ SUBJECT: RRT ERBIL: LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BARZANI TO THE SECRETARY ¶1. Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT Erbil) received the following letter from the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government for transmittal to Secretary Clinton on the occasion of Independence Day. Hard copy will be pouched. Similar letters were sent to the President and Vice President and to Secretary Gates and will be transmitted to them. Begin text: Salahaddin Kurdistan Region Iraq 29 June 2009 The Honorable Hillary Clinton Secretary of State Department of State Washington, DC USA Dear Secretary Clinton, On behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and myself, I would like to congratulate you on the 213th anniversary of the American Independence. We Kurds like to think we share with Americans the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence: "...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Many Americans have given their lives so that we Kurds and Iraqis might enjoy unalienable rights. Policies often change over time but we Kurds are loyal to our friends and we will never forget the American efforts in Iraqi Kurdistan. We wish you and all Americans a very happy and safe Fourth of July Holiday weekend. Yours very sincerely, Signed Masoud Barzani President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. End text. Hill