DJIBOUTI'S MILITARY CHIEF CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW FMF

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000985 SIPDIS FROM AMBASSADOR RAGSDALE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR ISA AFRICA DAS THERESA WHELAN; DEFENSE ALSO FOR DSCA EUROPE, RUSSIA, AMERICAS AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DIRECTOR JEANNE FARMER; STATE FOR AF/DAS DON YAMAMOTO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014 TAGS: PREL MASS MARR DJ SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S MILITARY CHIEF CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW FMF DELIVERIES REF: A. 03 STATE 32498 ¶B. 03 STATE 49476 ¶C. 03 DJIBOUTI 2084 ¶D. 03 DJIBOUTI 1396 ¶E. DJIBOUTI 185 ¶F. DJIBOUTI 239 Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 1.(U) Action requested at paragraph four. ¶2. (C) For the second time in three months, most recently during a meeting 7/19 at Djiboutian military headquarters, the Head of Djibouti's Armed Forces, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein, raised personally with Ambassador his considerable disquiet over the slow pace of acquisition and delivery of U.S. military defense equipment requested under the U.S. Foreign Military Financing Program (FMF). Since the dates of request by General Fathi for select military items, primarily between March and July, 2003, and subsequent Letters of Request (LORs),only one Letter of Acceptance (LOA) has been signed and none of the requested equipment has been delivered or is enroute to Djibouti. Oustanding equipment for Djibouti under FMF are: -- Heavy Road Construction Equipment (LOR October '02; LOA 17 July '03; only spare parts have begun to arrive in country.); - -- Reconnaissance Helicopters (LOR 30 July '03; Awaiting OSD decision) - -- Airfield Radar (LOR 30 July '03; Received ROM data; awaiting Govt. of Djibouti decision) - -- Coastal Radar (LOR 30 July '03; Awaiting Technical Assessment; Updated LOR 25 March '04); - -- Fast Patrol Boats (LOR 30 July '03; New LOR 14 March 04; JVI to take place after assessment visit 30 July) - -- Toyota Land Cruisers (LOR 9 May '04; Awaiting LOA; with TACOM) - -- Wheeled Vehicle Package (LOR 30 July '03; with TACOM) - -- Spare Parts for Wheeled Vehicles (LOR 30 July 03; with USASAC) - -- Communications Equipment for Wheeled Vehicles (LOR 30 July 03; with CECOM); - -- Automation Package (LOR 30 July '03; with IA) - -- Small Arms (M4 Carbines, M9 pistols, shot guns, M24 Sniper systems, MK19 Grenade Launchers, M2 .50 caliber) (LOR 30 July '03; with TACOM). - ¶3. (C) Reftels relate Djibouti's long-standing concern about the slow pace of FMF deliveries. Djibouti has considerable International Military Education and Training (IMET) and FMF programs. FMF alone currently stands at USD 15.28 million and is expected to rise. ¶4. (C) Action requested: We are concerned that the slow pace of delivery of the equipment Djibouti has requested could become a key bilateral issue in upcoming U.S.- Djiboutian talks on renewal of access to Camp Lemonier. The issue is already impacting relations with General Fathi at the Embassy level. President Guelleh is also interested in this aspect of our military relationship and has requested Department of Foreign Affairs involvement in tracking of military assistance. Request urgent DOD - DOS coordinated response that Ambassador can use to share with Government of Djibouti, and specifically General Fathi, that might allay concerns being expressed to us on the issue of FMF delivery. RAGSDALE