US embassy cable - 01GABORONE3103

UNCLAS GABORONE 003103 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S - PLEASE PASS TO WHITE HOUSE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OPDC, PREL, BC 
SUBJECT:  CONDOLENCE MESSAGE FROM BOTSWANA PRESIDENT 
MOGAE 
 
THE EMBASSY RECEIVED VIA DIPLOMATIC NOTE NUMBER 53/01 
DATED 12 SEPTEMBER 2001 THE FOLLOWING TEXT OF A 
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT FESTUS G. MOGAE TO PRESIDENT 
GEORGE W. BUSH. 
 
 
QUOTE: 
 
YOUR EXCELLENCY, 
 
IT WAS WITH GREAT SHOCK AND SADNESS THAT I LEARNED OF 
THE HORRIFIC TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE TWIN WORLD 
TRADE CENTER TOWERS AND THE PENTAGON ON TUESDAY 11TH 
SEPTEMBER 2001, RESULTING IN THE TRAGIC DEMISE OF 
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND UNWARRANTED DESTRUCTION OF 
PROPERTY. 
 
ACTS OF TERRORISM SUCH AS THESE UNDERMINE THE 
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF MODERN STATE SYSTEMS.  IT IS 
THEREFORE NECESSARY THAT THE WORLD COMMUNITY STAND 
TOGETHER IN TIMES LIKE THESE TO FIGHT THIS TERRIBLE 
SCOURGE. 
 
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF BOTSWANA, 
AND INDEED ON MY OWN BEHALF, I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY 
TO YOU AND THROUGH YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE 
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MY SYMPATHY AND 
HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES IN THESE TRYING TIMES. 
 
MAY THE SOULS OF THE DECEASED REST IN PEACE. 
 
ACCEPT, YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST 
CONSIDERATION AND ESTEEM. 
 
UNQUOTE. 
 
LANGE