DJIBOUTI'S RESPONSE TO 2003 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000333

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL PHUM DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S RESPONSE TO 2003 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT



1. (U) In a meeting March 8th with PolOff, Secretary
General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Badri Ali
Bogoreh, commented on the release of the 2003 Country
Report on Human Rights. Bogoreh initially was highly
defensive, calling the report severe. He then
commented that Djibouti still has work to do in the
area of Human Rights. Bogoreh described a new
Commission on Human Rights, which is writing the first
report on Human Rights done by the Government of
Djibouti. (Comment: This Committee is the result of a
DHRF grant of $25,000 from Post in FY03. The project
expects to be completed in March. Post will follow
up on the report. End Comment.)


2. (U) Bogoreh thanked the U.S. for its frankness
in the Human Rights Report. He also asked for
patience and support, saying there is work to be
done but that his government is moving in the right
direction.
RAGSDALE