LETTER FROM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RAFE AL-EISSAWI

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002422 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO NSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OPDC IZ SUBJECT: LETTER FROM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RAFE AL-EISSAWI TO VICE PRESIDENT ¶1. On August 28 Embassy Baghdad received the following letter from Deputy Prime Minister Rafe H. Al-Eissawi to Vice President Joseph Biden. The original letter will be passed to the Vice President's traveling party next week. Begin text of message: Republic of Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Office Rafe H. Al-Eissawi The Honorable Joseph R. Biden Vice President of the United States of America The White House Washington, DC Dear Vice President Biden, I write this letter to offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences for the loss of the Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy played a central role over the years in the service of his state and country; he will be missed dearly not only by his friends and family but all of the people of the United States. I am sure that he is survived by his political colleagues who will continue to carry his egalitarian voice and message. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and I would much appreciate conveying these feelings to President Obama. Sincerely, /s/ Rafe H. Al-Eissawi Deputy Prime Minister Republic of Iraq End text of message FORD