UNCLAS BAGHDAD 001812

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OPDC IZ
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM VICE PRESIDENT TARIQ AL-HASHIMI TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA


1. On July 5 Embassy Baghdad received the following letter
from Vice President Hashimi to President Obama on the
occasion of Independence Day. A similar letter was sent to
Vice President Biden. Both original letters will be
transmitted to NEA/I/POL via pouch mail.

Begin text of message:

Republic of Iraq
The Vice President
Tariq Al-Hashimi

His Excellency Barack Obama,
President of the United States of America
Washington, D.C.

On the occasion of the National Day of the United States of
America, please accept my most sincere congratulations and
best wishes to you and the American people whom we consider
as our friend.

My highest regards
(signed)

Tariq Al-Hashimi,
Vice President of the Republic of Iraq
Baghdad, 4 July 2009

End text of message

HILL