Viewing cable 08REYKJAVIK258, ICELAND: PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT-ELECT

Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
08REYKJAVIK258	2008-11-05 15:03	2011-01-13 05:05	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Reykjavik

R 051556Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3874
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
CIA WASHDC
DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000258 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL IC
SUBJECT:  ICELAND: PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT-ELECT 
OBAMA 
 
REF: STATE 118192 
 
¶1.  (U) Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde has sent U.S. 
President-elect Barack Obama a letter of congratulations, according 
to a November 5 press release from the PM's Office.  In the release, 
Haarde further noted that he looks forward to meeting the new 
President at the next NATO Summit in 2009 and that Obama's election 
will strengthen tQimage of the U.S. as one of the world's leading 
democracies.  Text of release follows para. 2. 
 
¶2.  (U) Text of Press Release (unofficial embassy translation): 
 
The Prime Minister's Congratulations to Barack Obama 
 
11/05/2008 
 
"I wish Barack Obama congratulations on his historic victory in the 
U.S. Presidential Election.  Voter turnout in the elections is 
indicative of the high level of public interest and the call for 
change," says Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde. 
 
"Obama has won this impressive victory based on his personal virtues 
and the issues he has emphasized.  I look forward to meeting him in 
areas of common national interest, such as at the next NATO Summit, 
and expect that the good relations between Iceland and the United 
States will only improve as he comes into the White House.  It is 
evident that the image of the United States as one of the world's 
leading democratic nations will only be strengthened with his 
election," says Geir Haarde. 
 
The Prime Minister has sent the following congratulatory letter: 
 
[Letter in English] 
 
Dear President-Elect Obama, 
 
I have the pleasure of conveying to you the warm congratulations of 
the Government of Iceland on your election as President of the 
United States of America. Your abilities and experience will benefit 
this great office and the American people and inspire democracies 
around the world. 
 
I look forward to working with you in strengthening the 
long-standing friendship and cooperation between Iceland and the 
United States, as well as in meeting international challenges of 
common concern. 
 
Sincerely, 
Geir H. Haarde, 
Prime Minister. 
 
Reykjavk 5. nsvember 2008 
 
End text of press release. 
 
VAN VOORST