COLOMBIA: INVITATION TO IDB 50TH ANNUAL MEETING IN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 000418 SIPDIS TREASURY FOR ARUSHING AND AJEWELL; STATE FOR EEB/IFD/OMA MSIEMER; WHA/AND AND WHA/EPSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN OVIP PGOV ECON OTRA EAID CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: INVITATION TO IDB 50TH ANNUAL MEETING IN MEDELLIN, MARCH 27-31, 2009 REF: 07 BOGOTA 4632 ¶1. On February 6, Post received a diplomatic note from the Colombian Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs extending an invitation to Treasury Secretary Geithner to attend the 50th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the 24th Annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Investment Corporation in Medellin on March 27-31, 2009. Paragraph 3 includes an informal translation of the diplomatic note. ¶2. Post transmitted copies of the diplomatic note and informal translation by unclassified email February 9 to the Treasury IDB Desk, the State Department Colombia Desk. EEB/IFD/OMA and WHA/EPSC. Post stands by to assist with arrangements for U.S. delegation attendance to the March 27-31, 2009 meetings. Point of Contact is Deputy Economic Counselor William Popp: poppww@state.gov; 011-571-383-2780 (tel); 011-571-383-2053 (fax). ¶3. BEGIN INFORMAL TRANSLATION. Dear Ambassador I am pleased to address your Excellency in reference to the Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Assembly of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Assembly of Governors of the Inter-American Corporation of Investments (IIC) taking place March 27-31, 2009 in the city of Medellin, Colombia. For Colombia it is an honor to host the Assembly commemorating fifty years of the IDB and its commitment to the social and economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean. Its work during this period has gained international recognition for one of the most solid multilateral financial institutions in the world. The current economic global conditions make this gathering between top officials responsible for facing current challenges and preparing our economies for future obstacles even more relevant. In this regard, the Government of Colombia is grateful for the cooperation of your Embassy in ensuring the participation of the Governor designated by your illustrious Government to the IDB and to inform us about the official delegation. For this purpose, I would like to deliver to you the invitation sent in December by Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, to the IDB Governor for the United States of America. Additionally, on the margins of this General Assembly a dialogue of Chiefs of State and Government about the future of Latin American and the Caribbean has been scheduled for March 31. During the next few days, we will send the invitation from President of the Republic of Colombia Alvaro Uribe Velez for this important event. Complimentary closing. Adriana Mejia Hernandez Vice Minister of Mulitlateral Affairs BROWNFIELD