US embassy cable - 05GENEVA1577

UNCLAS GENEVA 001577 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM/MCE, SS EXEC OFFICE, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, UNHCR 
SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF LETTER UNHCR HIGH COMMISSIONER ANTONIO 
GUTERRES ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEZZA RICE 
 
REF: SS98884 
 
1.  (U) Mission has received the following letter addressed 
to the Secretary of State Condolezza Rice. 
 
Begin Text. 
 
Madam, 
 
Please accept my sincere thanks for your kind letter of 
congratulations on my appointment as United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees. 
 
I am truly honoured by the trust that the Secretary-General 
and the member States have placed in me.  With the Office 
come tremendous responsibilities, as you note, and I pledge 
to engage myself with humility and to the full to help 
protect and care for refugees and other persons of concern to 
UNHCR.  I am convinced UNHCR has a critical role to play at 
this challenging time for the international and humanitarian 
communities alike. 
 
I greatly appreciate the inestimable support your Government 
continues to give to the Office, both in financial and 
political terms.  The success of an effective UNHCR depends 
on partnerships and I too attach great importance to our 
collaboration.  I look forward to learning more about our 
cooperation and how we might further strengthen it. 
 
I took up my official functions on 15 June 2005 and am 
finalizing plans for a visit to Washington at the end of this 
month.  Again, thank you for your kind wishes. 
 
Please accept, Madam, the assurances of my highest 
consideration. 
 
(handwritten) With my warmest regards, Sincerely yours 
 
Antonio Guterres 
 
 
2.  (U) Mission will pouch the original letter under registry 
number 6131638. 
Moley