LETTER FROM PRESIDENT MOTLANTHE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000713 FOR AF/EX RUSH MARBURG, FOR OES/EGC BARBARA DEROSA-JOYNT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL SF SUBJECT: LETTER FROM PRESIDENT MOTLANTHE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA REF: 210243Z MAR 09 ¶1. Post received a letter from President Motlanthe addressed to President Obama in response to the invitation to the Major Economies Forum. Text of the letter follows. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: 03 April 2009 Your Excellency, I refer to your letter of 24 March 2009 proposing the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate to continue the work of the existing Major Economies initiative. I support your proposal and South Africa will continue to participate in this forum to support the formal negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). I also believe that a candid dialogue may assist the formal negotiations and facilitate a better understanding between some of the key countries in the negotiations. South Africa will therefore attend the proposed Heads of State Meeting in July that will follow the G8 5 Heads of State Meeting. My Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, will continue to represent me in the preparatory sessions. I also look forward to working with you on this issue. South Africa strongly believes that a global agreement is possible and we will work with all other countries to achieve that. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. /s/ Kgalema Motlanthe END TEXT ¶3. Original signed letter will be sent via pouch under registry number 033587. LA LIME