Cablegate: Congratulatory Letter to the President From Strasbourg

VZCZCXRO8461
PP RUEHSR
DE RUEHSR #0025 2861258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131258Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL STRASBOURG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0190
INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0141
RUEHSR/AMCONSUL STRASBOURG 0201

UNCLAS STRASBOURG 000025

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL FR US
SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM STRASBOURG
MAYOR

REF: CARVER-LORENZ EMAIL OCT 9 2009

Post received a letter October 9 from Strasbourg Mayor (and
national senator) Roland Ries to President Obama regarding the
Nobel Peace Prize. Post will pouch original to EUR/WE; informal
consulate translation follows:

Strasbourg, October 9, 2009

Mr. President,

I have just learned with great pleasure that the Nobel Peace
Prize has been awarded to you today.

Obviously, the whole population of Strasbourg remembers very
well your remarks in our city April 3 during your town hall
meeting with young French and German students. You mentioned the
challenges of peace and insisted on the necessary commitment of
everyone to achieve peace all over the world.

Your Strasbourg speech is a real benchmark. It is often
mentioned during international meetings held since then in
Strasbourg. In a personal capacity, and as Mayor of Strasbourg,
I often have the opportunity to quote you, as for example when I
greeted President Michael (sic) Gorbachev in our City Hall last
week.

I am confident that this Nobel Peace Prize will give you even
more strength to contribute to addressing important
international issues in a positive way, from the Middle East to
Afghanistan, from the Persian Gulf region to the furthermost
borders of Asia.

Strasbourg is always available for any meeting you might
consider useful, and I take this opportunity to renew the
permanent invitation I extended to you when you were here last
April.

With my highest consideration and warmest greetings,

Yours, (handwritten)

/ s /

Roland Ries

Mr. Barack OBAMA

President of the United States

CARVER

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