1. (C) Pol/Econ delivered demarche per reftel 9 December to
Director of Bilateral Relations, Mohamed Ali Hassan. Hassan
explained Djibouti's position on the two cases, particularly
that of Iran, as a matter of differing approaches to the
problem. For Djibouti, the approach utilized most often in
the UN has become a "little old" and serves to accuse rather than
engage that country in the problem. He commented that "accusatory
resolutions" submitted time and again have had little or no
effect on many situations around the world. He cited Israel
and Kashmir as two examples. Instead, he proposed, these
countries in question might be better approached by their
close allies and neighbors.



2. (C) Continuing, Hassan said the issue of Human Rights
has been one discussed between Iran and Djibouti several times.
This approach facilitates demarches as they come from trusted
friends. One key to this approach was awareness and working to
educate leaders of these countries on the issues of Human Rights.
Hassan added that countries that submit the resolutions need to
be receptive to solving issues in alternative ways. Pol/Econ
commented that the resolutions concerned were likely to ensure
that unacceptable policies were not condoned by inaction.
Hassan agreed that the end goal of the two approaches were the
same and that it was necessary to make certain actions that
violated human rights were condemned.
RAGSDALE