R 061519Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6358
INFO AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN

UNCLAS PRETORIA 002456 
 
 
FOR S/ES-CR (NATALIE CHAGNON), S/ES-O, AND AF/S 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPDC PREL OVIP SF
SUBJECT: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU 
 
REF: STATE 118192 
 
 
As requested in reftel, Post passes the following letters of 
congratulation to President-elect Barack Obama and Vice 
President-elect Joseph Biden from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond 
Tutu. Scanned copies of the original letters will be 
forwarded via email; no originals have been provided. 
 
Begin text first letter: 
 
Dear President-elect Obama 
 
Tremendous! We are overjoyed and send our warmest 
congratulations to you on a superb victory. 
 
This is an epoch-making event filling the whole world with 
hope that change is possible. It is almost as when Nelson 
Mandela became President of South Africa in 1994. 
 
God bless you and your family and God bless the people of 
America. 
 
Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus 
 
End text. 
 
Begin text second letter: 
 
Dear Vice President-elect Biden 
 
My very warm congratulations on a hard won victory. 
 
You and President-elect Obama have been superb. Not only do 
you have the vote of the American people, but you have the 
support of the international community who have been holding 
their breath on the outcome of this election. You have shown 
us that anything is possible and together we can work to 
overcome the immense challenges ahead to make God's world the 
caring, compassionate community he created it to be. 
 
God bless you. 
 
Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus 
 
End text. 
 
 
BOST