Statement: RE Election the United States thank the People of Sierra Leone

Ambassador June Carter Perry

The United States thanks the many people of Sierra Leone who have followed so closely the election of the 44^th President of the United States and offer our congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama.As President-elect Obama said, “…America is a place where all things are possible….”

Let us note the graceful concession of Senator John McCain and the importance he placed on the unity of the American people behind a new president, the president of all the people. It is crucial to the stability of a democracy that all citizens unite behind a newly elected leader, with a loyal and cooperative opposition.

The next two months will be a time of change in the United States, as we prepare for the inauguration on January 20, 2009. I want to take this opportunity to assure you of a continuity of the American commitment to working with our partners around the world to advance the causes of human rights, democracy, health, rule of law, and all of the great endeavors we have entered into together.

Again, we congratulate the people of Sierra Leone for their own dramatic progress in democracy and acknowledge the tremendous progress for Africa initiated by President George W. Bush. As citizens of the world, we will all come together to advance transformational change around the world and, as Martin Luther King said, “We shall overcome” the challenges before us.