1. (U) Following Ambassador's July 28 briefing to Major
General of the Armed Forces, Col. Osman Sobaghleh, on status
of FMF cases for Djibouti as outlined in reftel (B),
Ambassador received a written reply August 4 from General
Fathi Ahmed Houssein, General of Djibouti's Armed Forces.
Embassy translation of the text of the reply follows at para


2.



2. (U) Begin text:
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August 4, 2004
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Her Excellency Mme. Ambassador of the United States in
Djibouti
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Subject: Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
Ref: Your unnumbered letter, 29 July 2004
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I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 29 July 2004
regarding the FMF intended for the Djiboutian Armed Forces.
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I thank you especially for the good presentation of this
program and its updating. I am convinced that such an
approach goes in the direction of reinforcing the already
profitable relations between our two countries.
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However, I regret to note that the delay in putting into
place of the funds and that by consequence, the materials
have not yet arrived at their destination. We feel a major
concern about these excessive delays in delivery of these
materials.
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Referring to the state of the program that you submitted to
me, permit me to transmit to you, in return, the necessary
observations that I have found:

- The heavy engineering equipment for road construction is
pending for a year and a half now.
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- Training with members of CJTF-HOA is proceeding slowly.
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- In June, the Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were requested to
be replaced with Land Rovers.
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- Regarding parts and equipment for vehicles, the letters of
acceptance DJ-B-BAL and DJ-B-BAM have already been signed and
were sent in July, 2004.
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- The air radar system was proposed in the summer for common
use with U.S. forces in Djibouti and we wish to carry out
this program with MARCENT (sic) Command in Bahrain. (Embassy
comment: General Fathi seems to be confusing two separate
potential projects. In recent conversations with USLO Chief,
General Fathi expressed a desire to develop joint programs
for both air field radar at Camp Lemonier/Ambouli Airfield
and coastal radar. Fathi was told that such programs would
likely have to be coordinated through MARCENT (for airfield
radar) and NAVCENT (i.e. Bahrain) for coastal radar. End
comment)
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- For the five fast high-speed motorboats and patrol craft, a
delegation has already been assigned for the project. We are
still waiting for an answer.
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- For the Obock Naval Base, the commission arrived in July
and began its study, and we would like that the work begin
quickly.
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- Regarding Hummer vehicles, we note that the delivery period
of 24 months is too long and we are in dire need of them for
territorial security.
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- The renovation of the frontier border stations has been the
subject of a recent study to evaluate the work needed and we
wish that this begin rather quickly.
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- The reconnaissance helicopters are on continuing on standby.
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However, as you have well underscored, the global war on
terrorism is growing day by day and always with new facets.
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Security of maritime coasts and land borders are of cardinal
importance, and the mixed patrols between our two forces
began some time ago.
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This is why I have the honor to ask you to intervene with the
appropriate authorities, as you have done before, in order
that the process of funding and acquisition be accelerated so
that our units are able to ensure their mission to protect
and secure host forces present within the territory, within
the framework of the global war on terrorism.
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Our common concern today remains the security of host forces,
and my responsibility as General of the Army pushes me to
personally ask you that these materials get to us rather
quickly, as it is the crux of the mission to which we are
dedicated.
Best regards,
General Fathi Ahmed Houssein
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Copy to: Military Office at the Presidency

End text.



3. (C) Comment: Ambassador appreciates reassurances given
during her recent consultations at DSCA and DOD. She
continues to urge that processing and delivery of FMF
materiel to Djibouti be expedited as much as possible. With
a new implementing arrangement in the process of negotiation
by DOD for the U.S. military presence in Djibouti, it will
behoove us, for purposes of leverage, to be as responsive as
we can to the requests Djibouti has put forward. End
comment.
RAGSDALE