VZCZCXRO4428
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #1704/01 3111038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061038Z NOV 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001704 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AND EUR/ERA 
NSC FOR KRISTINA KVIEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP OBAMA BARACK EUN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA INVITED TO ADDRESS EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT IN APRIL 
 
REF: STATE 118192 
 
¶1.  (U) Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European 
Parliament, asked us to transmit the following letter to 
President-elect Obama.  Pottering sent the original to 
Obama's Senate office via the European Commission delegation 
in Washington. 
 
¶2.  (U) Begin text. 
 
5 November 2008 
 
Senator Barack Obama 
713 Hart Office Building 
United States Senate 
Washington, DC 20510 
United States 
 
Dear President-elect, 
 
I am writing to congratulate you most sincerely on your 
election as the 44th President of the United States. 
 
On behalf of all the Members of the European Parliament, I 
would like to wish you every success in the challenging new 
role which you take on at this critical time.  I would also 
like to assure you that you will enjoy the good-will and 
encouragement of the people of the European Union in 
addressing the important and urgent tasks that lie ahead. 
 
If I may say so, I believe that this Presidential election 
has proved once again the extraordinary capacity for renewal 
which has so often been evident at difficult, indeed 
defining, moments in American history.  It has shown the deep 
strength and vitality of your democracy and political system. 
 
As you will have sensed during your visit to Europe in July, 
there is great enthusiasm for the idea of our working 
together in effective partnership on many of the global 
issues facing decision-makers in both our continents - for 
example, on climate change and energy security.  Your 
election offers a unique chance to strengthen and deepen 
EU-US relations, and to put our relationship on a firmer and 
more vibrant footing.  We must aim to take full advantage of 
this possibility. 
 
For this reason, I would be delighted to welcome you to the 
European Parliament very early in your term of office and to 
offer you the opportunity to address a solemn sitting of our 
institution.  It would be an honour and a pleasure to receive 
you in this way, and I can assure you that you would receive 
a very warm reception indeed. 
 
By good fortune, a perfect occasion for such a visit will 
arise next spring.  A special summit to celebrate the 60th 
anniversary of NATO is currently scheduled for Friday 3rd and 
Saturday 4th April 2009 in Strasbourg and Kehl.  Over the 
previous two days - on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd April - 
the Parliament will be holding a plenary session in Brussels. 
 
President Reagan addressed the European Parliament in May 
1985, on the fortieth anniversary of the end of the second 
world war.  As I myself can recall vividly, it was a powerful 
occasion which proved deeply memorable for all involved.  It 
would be wonderful if you, as a new President, were able, 
twenty years after the dramatic events in Europe of 1989, to 
outline your own thinking about the world today and how the 
United States and European Union can work successfully 
together in addressing the challenges and opportunities of 
our time. 
 
The 785-strong European Parliament, which I chair, is 
directly elected by the nearly 500 million citizens of the 
European Union and it acts as the joint legislature with the 
Council of Ministers in many areas of EU policy.  The next 
European elections will be held in June 2009. 
 
I extend to you once again my warmest congratulations on your 
election as President and hope that the idea of speaking to 
the European Parliament next April appeals, as you plan your 
first visits abroad. 
 
I very much look forward to our working together in the 
months to come. 
 
With my very best wishes, 
 
Yours, 
 
BRUSSELS 00001704  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
(signed) 
 
Hans-Gert Pottering 
 
End text. 
 
SILVERBERG 
.