Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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04DJIBOUTI353 | 2004-03-11 07:20:00 | SECRET | Embassy Djibouti |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
S E C R E T DJIBOUTI 000353 |
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 |