R 192319Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SUVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0812

UNCLAS SUVA 000439 
 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OPDC AMGT FJ
SUBJECT:  CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT FROM THE 
PRESIDENT OF KIRIBATI 
 
REF: STATE 118192 
 
 
¶1.  Embassy Suva received the enclosed letter dated 6 November 2008, 
addressed to the President-elect Honorable Barack Obama from the 
President of Kiribati, Anote Tong.  The text of the letter follows. 
 
 
BEGIN TEXT. 
 
Your Excellency, 
 
On behalf of the Government and people of Kiribati, and personally, 
I extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes on your 
successful election to the highest office of the United States of 
America. 
 
Your historic election to this esteemed office demonstrates the 
confidence the people of the United States of America have in your 
able leadership and broad vision to steer your country into a 
brighter future.  Kirbati and the Pacific are indeed proud and 
honored to be associated with you, as a fellow son of the Pacific, 
on this historic occasion. 
 
As fellow members of the international community, our two countries 
share similar concerns on global challenges of our time, in 
particular those posed by climate change and sea level rise.  We 
both acknowledge that climate change is indeed happening as a result 
of human activities and that global action is required now.  As you 
are probably aweare, this is of major concern to my country and my 
people given our extreme vulnerability to any slight sea rise in sea 
level due to our geography.  For my people, this is a matter of 
survival. 
 
In this regard, I applaud your resolve to provide the required 
leadership in addressing this issue through targeted domestic 
measures, through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 
mechanism, and through the offer of assistance to developing 
countries to help them address this issue. 
 
Our two countries have always enjoyed a warm relationship and 
cooperated at both bilateral and multilateral levels in advancing 
issues of mutual interest.  I am confident that under your esteemed 
leadership and with your Pacific heritage the ties between our two 
countries will grow from strength to strength.  I look forward to 
working closely with you in addressing issues of mutual concern fro 
the mutual benefit of our respective peoples. 
 
Please accept best wishes from my wife, Meme, to your good wife, 
Michelle, and young daughters, Malia and Sasha, as well as our 
Kiribati blessing of Te Mauri (health), Te Raoi (peace), ao Te 
Tabomoa (and prosperity) as you lead your country into a safe and 
prosperous future. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
(signed Anote Tong) 
Beretitenti (President) 
 
END TEXT 
 
¶2.  A copy of the original letter will be sent via unclassified 
pouch to EAP/ANP. 
 
PRUETT