VISIT OF FRANCE'S DEFENSE MINISTER TO DJIBOUTI:

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000976

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CJTF-HOA PLEASE PASS MARCENT
PARIS FOR NEARY
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PGOV FR DJ
SUBJECT: VISIT OF FRANCE'S DEFENSE MINISTER TO DJIBOUTI:
ANXIETY ABOUT U.S. PRESENCE

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


1. (C) During Ambassador's 7/15 meeting with Minister of
Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Ali
Youssef, Ambassador raised the July 8-9 visit to Djibouti of
France's Defense Minister, Michele Alliot-Marie.
Alliot-Marie had met during her time in Djibouti with
President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Djiboutian military
officials. She had also visited an education project France
is funding in Obock and France's Ambassador to Djibouti had
hosted a diplomatic reception in her honor.


2. (C) Youssef told Ambassador that this visit was
Alliot-Marie's third in the past two years. That, he said,
is unprecedented in the history of the Djiboutian-French
post-independence relationship. He said Alliot-Marie sought
"reassurances" from Djibouti on the continuity of
Djibouti-French relations and seemed clearly worried about
the implications for that relationship of the U.S. military
presence at Camp Lemonier. According to Youssef,
Alliot-Marie was concerned that Djibouti intended to replace
France's military presence with an American presence.


3. (C) Youssef said his government made clear to Alliot-Marie
that France and Djibouti enjoy a special relationship and
that there was no intention to displace France's presence.
The U.S. has a different focus and it is the war against
terrorism. He said Alliot-Marie also asked for, and got,
Djibouti's agreement "in principle" to obtain a tract of land
near Camp Lemonier on which to station aircraft and
accommodate a contingent of service persons. He said he
thought she sought guarantees on this issue in order to lock
in an option for France prior to start of U.S. - Djibouti
negotiations on access renewal.


4. (C) Youssef said Alliot-Marie's request was not the first
for this tract of land. Former French Ambassador to Djibouti
Roussel had asked for the land in January prior to the end of
his tenure as ambassador. Youssef said there is no written
agreement between Djibouti and France for the parcel in
question. (Comment: Commander of French Forces in Djibouti,
General Gerard Pons, has made clear to us the interest of
France's military in obtaining use of a tract of land
adjacent to Camp Lemonier -- described locally as 15 hectares
-- on which to station some of its aircraft. End comment.)


5. (U) France has approximately 2,850 service men and women
in Djibouti and Djibouti is France's largest military
presence outside France. In August, 2003, it agreed to pay to
Djibouti 30 million euros annually (approximately $36
million) for use of military facilities in country. The
agreement is for ten years.


6. (C) Ambassador raised with Youssef the composition of
Djibouti's delegation for talks on renewal of the U.S. access
agreement. Youssef said the composition of Djibouti's
delegation would depend on where talks are held. If they are
held in Washington, Ambassador Olhaye would be the
negotiator. If they are held in Djibouti, the composition
would need to be determined. He said it would be preferable
to hold talks in Washington, in order to maintain
confidentiality of discussions, for facilitation of language

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issues, and because Olhaye has had greater experience in
working with and understanding Americans. (Comment:
Youssef's statements would tend to indicate that Washington
should consider taking the lead and proposing that locale as
best venue for these negotiations. End comment.)


7. (U) Khartoum minimize considered.
RAGSDALE