VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFN #0639 2971846
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241846Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1472
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0260

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL OPDC SL
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KOROMA INVITATION TO PRESIDENT BUSH TO 
ATTEND NOVEMBER 16 INAUGURATION 
 
 
¶1. The Government of Sierra Leone has announced that the 
inauguration of President Ernest Bai Koroma will take place 
in Freetown on November 15, 2007. Embassy Freetown has been 
asked to convey the following invitation from President 
Koroma to President George W. Bush, received October 24. The 
accompanying Note Verbal provides details of the event. See 
action request paragraph 2. 
 
BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER 
 
From Office of the President, Freetown, Sierra Leone 
 
19th October 
 
H.E. Mr. George W. Bush 
President of the United States of America 
 
Your excellency: 
 
Invitation to the Inauguration of the President of the 
Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, in Freetown 
on the 15th of November 2007. 
 
It gives me great pleasure to invite you as my Special Guest 
to my Inauguration as President of the Republic of Sierra 
Leone following my recent election to that office. 
 
While I appreciate the heavy pressure on your schedule, I 
trust that you will find the time to honour me and the people 
of Sierra Leone at this special occasion with your presence. 
 
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest 
consideration, 
 
Signed 
 
Ernest Bai Koroma 
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone 
 
END TEXT OF LETTER 
 
BEGIN TEXT OF ACCOMPANYING NOTE VERBALE 
 
Ref 3079/109 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
of the Republic of Sierra Leone presents its compliments to 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States of 
America and has the honour to inform that the Inauguration 
Ceremony of His Excellency, Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President 
of the Republic of Sierra Leone will take place on Thursday 
15th November 2007 in Freetown. In this regard, the 
Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone 
cordially invite His Excellency, Mr. George W. Bush, 
President of the United States of America to witness the 
occasion. 
 
The program commences at 10.00 a.m. at the National Stadium 
to be followed by a luncheon hosted by His Excellency the 
President at Parliament Building. 
 
The Ministry further wishes to request confirmation of His 
Excellency's attendance as well as providing information on 
the size of His Excellency's delegation, together with the 
time and date of arrival and departure to facilitate 
arrangements for board and accommodation. The Ministry will 
appreciate receiving the required information not later than 
5th November, 2007. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
of the Republic of Sierra Leone avails itself of this 
opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 
the United States of America the assurances of its highest 
consideration. Freetown, 16th October 2007 
 
END TEXT OF NOTE VERBALE. 
 
¶2. Action request: Embassy Freetown will appreciate learning 
about the composition of a possible delegation so we may 
convey the information as requested. 
 
PRATT