GUELLEH INTERVIEW WITH BBC SOMALI

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001374 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV DJ SUBJECT: GUELLEH INTERVIEW WITH BBC SOMALI ¶1. (U) Summary: The October 7th issue of Le Progres, the journal of the ruling party RPP (People's Rally for Progress),carried an overview of President Ismail Omar Guelleh's interview with BBC Somali while in New York during Guelleh's recent trip to the U.S and Cuba. In the interview, Guelleh reportedly focused on his goals for the New York and Washington visits. He also touched on relations between the United States and Djibouti, the peace process in Somalia and the American military base in Djibouti. End Summary. ¶2. (U) According to Le Progres, the journal of the ruling RPP, President Guelleh spoke recently on BBC Somali about the main goal of his visit to New York, which was the peace process in Somalia. For him, the major issue was to set aside the obstacles that have ruined the preceding peace conferences. Discussions with Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, were mainly about Somalia. "I asked him to receive the IGAD ministers to see developments of the peace process and inform the Security Council, Guelleh reportedly stated. Kofi Annan had responded that "It's the first time the six IGAD countries adopted a common position on Somalia." In the event, that the upcoming election of a transitional Somalian president disappoints warlords who are seeking a presidential seat, Guelleh stated "We agreed that the Security Council should execute its threat and brings those people to international justice ¶3. Regarding the purpose of his visit to Washington, Guelleh said the visit focused on meeting Senate and congressional officials that are responsible for international, African and military issues. "We're exchanging points of view on how to reinforce peace in Somalia." Guelleh added that he also "wanted to meet the legislators that control American policy." Responding to a question on the United States choosing Djibouti as site for a major American military base and what the United States thinks of Somalia, Guelleh responded "They told me that they were outside of the inter- Somali peace process discussions so far because they had bad memories in operation Restore Hope. But now they intend to support the new Somali government because it will have no ties with international terrorism, Guelleh reportedly stated." RAGSDALE