1. (C) Djibouti's Foreign Minister Ali Abdi Farah told me
March 10, during our meeting at the Foreign Ministry, that he
will leave tomorrow for Nairobi to attend an IGAD Council of
Ministers meeting March 12 on Somalia. He said Djibouti's
Somalia policy remains one of finding a workable solution to
the divisions that continue to plague that nation. He
affirmed close ties of Djibouti with Somalia, and especially
with Somaliland, but said those ties should be seen within
the context of the familiar social and family ties that
naturally bind Djibouti to its neighbor. He said Djibouti's
actions should also be viewed as having a basis in its
concern for the continued suffering of ordinary Somalis.



2. (C) Asked about possible solutions to the fractiousness
that characterizes Somalia, FM Farah responded that the
concept of a "federation" of entities within Somalia, rather
than the traditional concept of a unified state might achieve
the best result. Tribal tensions are too intense to make
much else workable. He recounted historic attempts at union
that ultimately proved unworkable. Yet he also said the
"stupidity" of Somalis have contributed to the absence of
peace.



3. (S) I raised the importance of Djibouti using the close
ties it has with Somaliland to put pressure on Somaliland to
cooperate with us in the fight against terrorism, with the
status of three suspected terrorists at the center of the
battle. FM Farah said Djibouti is "willing to help" and
asked that we convey by diplomatic note this requirement.
(Comment: We will hold off doing so in order to vet with
AF/E Gaffney during her 3/14 visit the appropriate language
and whether this is the route we want to follow. End
comment.)



4. (C) Asked about Ethiopia's relations with Somalia (writ
large), he said he saw no genuine interest in Ethiopia to
peace in Somalia. Perhaps, he said, this is a consequence of
Ethiopia's fear of renewed conflict in the Ogaden and a
revival of other latent problems.



5. (C) Comment: Djibouti's continued role in a Somali peace
is buttressed by its planned presence at the March 12
ministerial and by the hope that the role can be
constructive. Perhaps Embassy Nairobi can use the
Ministerial to further press on our specific terror-related
objectives whilte also pressing for a galvanized effort to
nudge all the warring factions toward peace. End comment.
RAGSDALE