Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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04DJIBOUTI1543 | 2004-12-03 07:27:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Djibouti |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 001543 |
1. (C) In a meeting with President Ismail Omar Guelleh December 2 on other matters (reviewed septels), Ambassador also sought Guelleh's views on regional Horn of Africa developments. Topics covered included the new Ethiopian five-point peace proposal, Eritrean isolation and meddling in Darfur, Libya as regional spoiler, the new Somalia transitional president and the future of Somaliland. Pol/Econ accompanied Ambassador as notetaker. Guelleh was joined by his Minister of the Presidency, Osman Ahmed. -------------------------- Ethiopia-Eritrea -------------------------- 2. (C) On Meles's new five-point proposal to end its conflict with Eritrea, Guelleh noted that it very heavily used the term "in principle." Meles had told him, Guelleh said, the hardest part of his work was done in putting forward the five-point plan. Now, he can look towards getting demarcation implemented. However, Guelleh said, while getting demarcation implemented, it is important to open the door for discussion on how to solve the problem of Badme being now divided into two parts. There might be human tragedies along the border that need resolution, and it would be crucial to determine who is responsible. The two leaders must talk directly, he said, despite the fact that Eritrea has denounced the five-point proposal outright. He urged the U.S. to play a critical role because of its friendly relationship with both Ethiopia and Eritrea. Eritrea's Isaias is very isolated, Guelleh said. A third party-- Libya-- one of the few friends Isaias has remaining in the region, had entered the mix. The U.S. should put pressure on Libya to assist with peace efforts because of that close relationship, Guelleh said. 3. (C) Guelleh said he thought Isaias was now meddling in Darfur, arming rebels in an effort to de-stabilize Sudan. He said he believed this meddling is at the behest of Libya, as the arms being provided are of Libyan origin. He re-emphazied that it is important for the U.S. to put pressure on Libya. He also remarked that Isaias's actions had no logic. "He has enough problems in Eritrea that he needs to solve rather than looking elsewhere," Guelleh said. Guelleh was firm in his opinion that it would not be wise to give Isaias the impression that his behavior and actions against peace are condoned. -------------------------- Sudan -------------------------- 4. (C) Ambassador asked Guelleh for his perspective on the current government in Sudan, and what impact a change in leadership might have on the country's future. Guelleh stated that in his opinion, Bashir had changed focus. He had abandoned old friends, mentors and policies because he wanted to seek greater normalcy for his country. This is one reason Bashir has been open to genuine dialogue between North and South, Guelleh assessed, and had worked to remove extremists from his army and administration. Guelleh also commented that he did not see any other leader currently on the scene in Sudan that could lead the country. If elections were held today, Bashir would likely be elected by the majority of the people, Guelleh surmised. He cautioned again, however, about Libya. He said Qaddafi has long had an interest in de-stabilizing Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic and continues that policy. -------------------------- Somalia and Abdillahi Yusuf -------------------------- 5. (C) Guelleh noted that Yusuf had begun to form his government and that he appeared to be selecting other warlords. He then said he wanted to watch the reactions of Somalis in the diaspora. He did not think they would like Yusuf very much. He said the approach to peace during the Arta Conference that Djibouti had hosted in 2000 was to keep the warlords out and to engage civil society. That did not work, Guelleh said, but it would take time to see if Yusuf's plan of engaging warlords would fare better. 6. (C) Guelleh said it was critical that the U.S. support Yusuf. He could not succeed without that support. If the Europeans see the U.S. supporting Yusuf, they would respond in kind. He said it was unfortunate that the U.S. refused to permit Yusuf to travel to New York. Ambassador noted that the U.S. position has been that it wants Yusuf to concentrate first on building a government and that building a government could then be followed by perhaps addressing other issues such as support for an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia. -------------------------- Somaliland -------------------------- 7. (C) Asked about the future of Somaliland and Djibouti's view of Somaliland, Guelleh said the international community must push Somaliland to create a climate suitable for talks with its brethren in the south. Ambassador noted the firmness of FM Edna Ismail on Somaliland remaining an independent entity. Guelleh said Somaliland must be persuaded to rejoin the Somalia body, perhaps in the form of a federation, but to rejoin all the same. (Comment: The idea of a federation has long been put forward by Djibouti but it is unclear what form it would take. End comment) He said Somaliland has, to its credit, been stable, yet that stability has been the result of it being comprised of a single tribe. "We cannot encourage the idea of secession," he said. If we give Somaliland the green light to go its separate way, many countries will follow suit. Guelleh confirmed that this was also the position of the African Union. 8. (U) Khartoum and Tripoli minimize considered. RAGSDALE |