BENIN: PRESIDENT YAYI'S CONDOLENCE MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT

UNCLAS COTONOU 000104


DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AF/W, AF
DEPARTMENT PASS PEACE CORPS
PARIS FOR RKANEDA
LONDON FOR PLORD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PHUM ASEC BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PRESIDENT YAYI'S CONDOLENCE MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT
OBAMA PLEDGES JUSTICE FOR MURDERED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER AND BETTER
PROTECTION FOR OTHER AMCITS

REF: (A) Cotonou 99, (B) Cotonou 90


1. This is an action message. Please see para 4.


2. Late evening on March 23, 2009, Post received a condolence
message from President Boni Yayi to President Obama on the March 12
murder of Ms. Catherine Puzey, Peace Corps Volunteer, in the village
of Badjoude. Yayi pledged to take all available measures to
apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and to better protect
Amcits living and working in Benin. He also requested that the USG
express Benin's formal condolences to the family of Ms. Puzey.


3. Text of the Yayi/Obama letter follows:

Republic of Benin Cotonou, 23-03-09
Presidency of the Republic
The President

Ref/No. 182-0/PR/CAB/SP

Mr. President:

It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the
horrible and odious assassination Thursday, 12 March 2009, of
Catherine Puzey, recently a Peace Corps Volunteer on mission in the
Department of Donga in Benin.

This terrible crime to which an esteemed American citizen fell
victim and that affects all the people of the United States of
America is also a crime against the friendship between peoples. It
impacts with equal violence the people of Benin and has caused
general indignation.

During this particularly difficult time, I have the sad duty to
present to Your Excellency and to all the people of the United
States of America my sincere condolences as well as my regrets and
those of the people of Benin who just lost a friend whose efforts
for the most vulnerable, notably girls, leave an unforgettable
memory.

I hope that you will forward these condolences to all the
members of the deceased's family. Her sacrifice will not be in
vain.

Please assure them that all available measures are in place to
find the perpetrators of this odious act which will not go
unpunished.

I take this opportunity to reiterate to you my commitment and
that of the entire Government of Benin to work toward the
consolidation of relations between our two countries and to assure
you of a better protection of Americans living and working in
Benin.

May God Almighty give peace and eternal rest to the soul of the
deceased and give to her family and to the great people of the
United States of America in mourning the courage and strength to
overcome this tragedy.

Expressing again my sincere condolences and profound regret, I
hope you will accept, Mr. President, heartfelt expression of my
profound compassion and my very highest consideration.

Very sincerely,

Dr. Boni Yayi


4. Post offers the following text for consideration for an
Obama/Yayi reply, noting the importance to this investigation of
having the GOB request that the FBI lab in Quantico, VA, test the
crime scene evidence and guarantee that the results will be
admissible in Benin's courts:

Begin text:

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your condolences and assurances that everything is
being done to apprehend and punish those responsible for the murder
on March 12, 2009, of our precious Peace Corps Volunteer, Ms.
Catherine Puzey, in the village of Badjoude, where she taught high
school for eighteen months.

I will indeed forward your message to her family, noting that
her and their sacrifice will not be in vain.

My government as well as the American people wish to express
appreciation for the support of your government and people to our
mission in Benin with the Government of Benin investigation. I
understand that this includes your government's request for U.S.
Government assistance with analysis of the crime scene evidence and
guarantee that the results, from the FBI Laboratory in Quantico,
Virginia, in this case, will be admissible in Benin's courts.

I appreciate also your assurances that Americans living and
working in Benin will be better protected. We value our friendship
with Benin and hope that it will be able to continue to grow.

End text.

BROWN