HAITI DEMARCHE TO AFRICAN UNION STATE DJIBOUTI

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000385

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF, AF/E, AND WHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2014
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM SF DJ
SUBJECT: HAITI DEMARCHE TO AFRICAN UNION STATE DJIBOUTI

REF: STATE 056137

Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA RAGSDALE. REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Ambassador conveyed reftel demarche on Haiti March 14
to Minister of Cooperation, Mohamoud Youssef Ali, in
Djibouti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ali stated that
Djibouti stands firmly with the United States in the
conviction that President Aristide's departure was for the
good of Haiti and the Haitian people, who have suffered a
great deal over the past few decades.


2. (C) Ali added that from Djibouti's perspective, it is
unimportant whether Aristide left office on his own accord,
or was encouraged or forced to leave. What is important is
that his departure is for the good of Haiti and there is no
need to create a larger issue. He said he was unsure of the
motivations of South Africa in seeking to raise debate over
the circumstances of Aristide's departure, but that Djibouti
sees no point in the issue being broached at the Arab League
level. Ali agreed that efforts now should be focused on the
restoration of order in that troubled country and a
commitment to the early establishment of a
democratically-elected government.
RAGSDALE