1. (C) Acting Pol/Econ officer delivered the reftel demarche
to the Director of the Arab Department at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Fairouz Ahmed Houssein. Houssein said that
the Minister of Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, will attend the January 9
Arab League meeting, which will focus on charter amendments.
Houssein said that officially Djibouti will adopt the same
position as the League, but she is unaware of any local
objection to the January 30 election date. Houssein noted her
belief that the Arab League will support the elections.
Pol/Econ officer left an unofficial French translation of the
talking points with Houssein.



2. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
RAGSDALE