FRENCH PRESIDENT ISSUES CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO

UNCLAS PARIS 000078 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL FR SUBJECT: FRENCH PRESIDENT ISSUES CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA ¶1. On January 20 at 18:19 CET (12:19 EST),the official website of the President of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy included a congratulatory letter to President Obama. Embassy Paris provides the following unofficial translation. ¶2. Begin text. Mister President, With your election, the American people expressed with vigor its faith in progress and the future, as well as its wish for the open, new, strong and united America that you embody. At the time you take office, please accept my best wishes, both personally and on behalf of the French people, for success in your mission at the head of the American nation. I also want to assure you that France is determined to work hard in hand with America, its friend and ally, so that we can resolve together the immense challenges that confront our world today. Nicolas Sarkozy End text. PEKALA