DJIBOUTI AND DEMARCHE REQUEST ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001026

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND NEA
LONDON/PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI AND DEMARCHE REQUEST ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION

REF: STATE 188987

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


1. (C) Ambassador conveyed reftel demarche October 13 to
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Yousuf. She noted
terms of the compromise by political leaders, as announced
October 12, their endorsement by key Sunni elements, and the
U.S. desire to build on the momentum generated by the
compromise and endorsement in order to increase chances of
success of the October 15 referendum. She asked the Foreign
Minister that Djibouti consider any of several options to
assist U.S. efforts, including (1) a public statement
welcoming the compromise, congratulating parties involved,
and urging Iraqis to vote in the referendum; (2) seeking
support of the political process from Djibouti's Iraqi
contacts; (3) making public statements on steps Djibouti
would take on the diplomatic, political and economic front
with Iraq; and (4) ceasing contacts, if any, with elements
urging non-participation in the Iraqi political process.


2. (C) Yousuf responded that Djibouti is following events in
Iraq and views the compromise as in line with its own
thinking. Djibouti is optimistic, he said, that the
amendment would help all parties. He expressed hope the
Sunnis would accept. Yousuf advised the Ambassador that he
would accept her first option -- a public statement -- and
immediately gave instructions to the Director of Bilateral
Affairs, Mohamed Ali Hassan, to draft a statement of
Djibouti's support, to be released either that day (the 13th)
or the 15th. The second and fourth options were not
possible, Yousuf continued, as Djibouti has no contacts with
either Iraqis supporting the political process or in
opposition to it. With respect to the third option, he said
Djibouti would be on board with whatever steps the Arab
League decided to take. He admitted that the Arab League has
stood somewhat back from the process in Iraq to date, but
opined that this new compromise will likely lead to greater
Arab League engagement.


3. (C) Yousuf also made the point that it will be important
in Iraq, as the country moves along the road to democracy, to
see stability and peace brought about. In many ways, he
stated, stability, peace, and also security, must come before
democracy and the political process. It is troubling, he
continued, that so many Iraqi civilians are being killed in
insurgency violence now underway in Iraq. With so much
danger confronting ordinary civilians, getting widespread
civilian participation in the process of government will be a
far more difficult task.
RAGSDALE