Embassy Newscentre

Embassy News 2008-2009

Ambassador WANDA L. NESBITT

Ambassador Nesbitt’s New Year Wishes

As the year 2008 has ended, I take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Côte d’Ivoire for their patience and wisdom. Much progress has been made this year towards resolving the crisis that has kept this lovely country under a cloud for far too long, and the road ahead is still difficult.   I am confident, however, that Côte d’Ivoire will regain its leadership role in the region and I call on all the political actors in the country to re-commit themselves to peace and to make 2009 the last year in which Ivorians wonder when they will see a return to normal life. 

This is the season of hope, of joy and of goodwill.  My country looks forward with great hope to the advent of a new President, M. Barack Obama. And we do so with great excitement and with confidence that no matter what comes our way, we will persevere.  My wish for Côte d’Ivoire in 2009 is a wish for peace, for reconciliation and for an end to the difficulties that so many Ivorian families have suffered over the last six years.  As I prepare to celebrate the New Year with my family, I find myself humming the words of a popular American song, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” We must each do our part to make 2009 a better year.  I wish everyone a very happy New Year, a year filled with success, prosperity, and peace. May God bless Côte d’Ivoire; May God bless the friendship between our countries and May God bless America.