How to Address letter to a foreign president?

Answer 1

How to Address a Foreign President?

We recently videotaped an interview with The President of the Republic of Panama His Excellency Ricardo Martinelli Berrocalwhen he returned to his alma mater for a visit. We have prepared a rough draft of the transcript to return to him, and I must include a cover letter with it. How should the inside address and salutation be written?

Please note: the text in red above is how we are referring to him on the title page of his transcript.

I found a recent letter on-line addressed to him as Mr. President and President Berrocal. Is this the correct?

-- SKP, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Dear SKP:

What you see on the letter you found on-line is definitely a respectful form of address, but is neither the style we use in the US or the style they use in Panama.

In my book I have a block on every country in the United Nations .... and on page 506 I include that the protocol dept. of the Panamanian Embassy says that in Panama they address their president as:

His/Her/Your Excellency

So use:

His Excellency Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal

I also give the forms for addressing a president addressed as an Excellency on page 408. The salutation for a person addressed with the courtesy title Excellency is:

Your Excellency:

No Dear is necessary.

RE: How you are referring to him on the title page:

Whether the office is first or his name is first is a reflection of which is more important to you.

The way you have it written shows the office is more important.

Using His Excellency Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal, President of the Republic of Panama would reflect a different view.

I know the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock has a copy of my book on their reference shelf. Maybe they need one in Fayetteville too!

-- Robert Hickey

Answer 2

• You address a letter to a foreign ambassador: Ambassador _________. Put the name of the Ambassador and the country.