O 121527Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY GABORONE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5263
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS GABORONE 000821 
 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES AND AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPDC PGOV BC
SUBJECT: TRANSMISSION OF LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH FROM 
BOTSWANA'S PRESIDENT KHAMA. 
 
¶1. Embassy Gaborone received a diplomatic note (Note NO/2008 
EA 6/16 (s) XXVIII (77) C1) from the Government of Botswana 
conveying a letter to President Bush from President Khama. 
The transcription of the diplomatic note follows: 
 
¶2.  "Republic of Botswana 
NOTE NO:  40/2008 EA 6/16 (s) xxviii (77) C1 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
of the Republic of Botswana presents its compliments to the 
Embassy of the United States of America and has the honour to 
forward a letter from His Excellency Lieutenant General 
Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of 
Botswana to His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush, President of 
the United States of America on the assistance extended to 
Botswana. 
 
The Ministry will be obliged if the letter was conveyed to 
its highest destination. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
of the Republic of Botswana avails itself of this opportunity 
to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the 
assurances of its highest consideration. 
 
29 August 2008 
Gaborone 
 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Gaborone" 
 
¶3.  The transcription of the letter to President Bush from 
President Khama follows: 
 
¶4.  "Republic of Botswana (seal) 
 
The State President 
PPO 8/12 VI (75) 
 
Gaborone 
21 August, 2008 
 
Your Excellency, 
 
The United States of America and Botswana enjoy excelent 
bilateral relations.  These friendly relations manifest 
themselves in many fields of practical co-operation.  The 
consistent support and assistance extended to Botswana has 
had such a positive impact in the wellbeing of Botswana that 
I deem it important and appropriate to reiterate our deep 
gratitude. 
 
Since the 1990s the US Government provided assistance to 
Botswana in combating TB, HIV and AIDS epidemics.  The US 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention was a key partner 
in the establishment of our national comprehensive Prevention 
of Mother to Child Transmission programme.  Under the 
Botswana/United States of America (BOTUSA) partnership, we 
pioneered in the establishment of voluntary counseling and 
testing centres.  All these programmes have been crucial to 
our response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 
 
Your Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has since 2005 
to date, allocated Botswana US264 million to cover our 
efforts in the prevention, treatment, care and support of 
HIV/AIDS.  Preliminary indications from the local PEPFAR 
Office here in Botswana, are that we are likely to receive an 
additional US$90,6 million for the next Country Operational 
Plan allocation starting October 1st 2008. 
 
All this assistance has made a huge difference, and will 
continue to do so in the future, in securing the health and 
lives of Batswana. 
 
We also salute the American people for their spirit of 
caring, giving and kindness.  The American Peace Corps are in 
Botswana as volunteers to help us in the implementation of 
programmes such as Orphan Care, Prevention of Mother to Child 
Transmission and Community Home Based Care. 
 
The United States Private sector, foundations and academic 
institutions have continued to be of great assistance to 
Botswana. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Merck 
Company Foundation, the Harvard School of Public Health and 
the Harvard AIDS Institute, the Baylor College of Medicine 
(Children's Centre of Excellence), the University of 
Pennsylvania and Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation are some of 
the key dependable partners in our efforts to respond to the 
HIV/AIDS epidemic. 
 
I have no doubt that all these private companies, foundations 
and institutions have come to our assistance because of your 
leadership.  We thank you and commend you for all your 
support.  I am also writing directly to them to say how 
grateful we are as a country and people for the wonderful 
work they are doing to help Batswana. 
 
It is against this background that I consider it important to 
thank you.  The assistance we receive has made it possible 
for Botswana to effectively respond to the epidemic.  We have 
made progress in reducing new infections, prevention of the 
transmission of the virus from mother to child and in our 
care, treatment and support programmes.  This has given our 
people hope that they can overcome the epidemic.  In this 
respect I wish to assure you that we will intensify our 
efforts in the response to the epidemic as you have certainly 
made it possible for us to help ourselves. 
 
Please accept, Mr. President, the renewed assurances of my 
highest consideration, 
 
Yours Sincerely 
 
/signed/ 
 
Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama 
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA 
 
His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush, 
President of the United States of America 
The White House 
Washington, D.C. 
United States of America" 
 
¶5.  End of transcription.  Regards. 
 
 
DROUIN