Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04DJIBOUTI680
2004-05-10 13:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:  

DJIBOUTI'S FOLLOW-UP ON U.S. OFFER TO PURCHASE NEW

Tags:  PREL AMGT ABLD DJ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000680 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF, AF/E, AND AF/EX
STATE ALSO FOR OBO, OBO/REPM, OBO/PD, AND OBO/RM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2014
TAGS: PREL AMGT ABLD DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S FOLLOW-UP ON U.S. OFFER TO PURCHASE NEW
EMBASSY SITE

REF: A. DJIBOUTI 528

B. DJIBOUTI 492

C. STATE 086999

D. DJIBOUTI 340

E. STATE 086390

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000680

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF, AF/E, AND AF/EX
STATE ALSO FOR OBO, OBO/REPM, OBO/PD, AND OBO/RM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2014
TAGS: PREL AMGT ABLD DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S FOLLOW-UP ON U.S. OFFER TO PURCHASE NEW
EMBASSY SITE

REF: A. DJIBOUTI 528

B. DJIBOUTI 492

C. STATE 086999

D. DJIBOUTI 340

E. STATE 086390

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


1. (U) On May 3, Ambassador raised with Mahmoud Ali Youssef,
Minister of Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the outstanding U.S. offer to purchase a site for a new
embassy compound (NEC) in Djibouti. Youssef, at that time,
said he had did not yet have a response to the U.S. offer,
although he had been prodding his government since it
received our diplomatic note three weeks earlier on April 11.
Youssef did ask, however, if the U.S. were certain that the
land it wished to purchase had not been claimed by another
buyer.


2. (C) Ambassador responded that the U.S. team that put
together our survey and offer was aware that part of the
parcel of land it originally considered for purchase was no
longer available. Nevertheless, the team found the remaining
area of the original parcel acceptable for USG needs and the
offer of USD 1,800,000 put forward in Embassy's diplomatic
note covered that portion of the remaining space available in
the parcel.


3. (C) In a follow-up phone call from Youssef to Ambassador
on May 6, Youssef stated that contrary to President
Guelleh's remark (reported reftel A) that the Government of
Djibouti would make a counter-proposal on price of the
parcel, there would now not repeat not be a counter-proposal.
The amount the U.S. had offered, Youssef said, was
acceptable.


4. (U) Youssef continued that since the price was
acceptable, the matter of working out modalities -- so that a
diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
accepting the offer and laying out technical specifications
could be finalized-- had been turned over to the Minister of
Habitat, Urbanism, Environment and Planning, Abdallah
Abdillahi Miguil. Youssef told Ambassador that an
appointment for her with Miguil had already been set for the
following week.


5. (SBU) Ambassador is scheduled to meet with Miguil on
Monday, May 17, and will advise Department of outcome and
remaining issues.


RAGSDALE