DJIBOUTI'S RESPONSE TO CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE ILO

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000544 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PREL BB CU DJ ILO SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S RESPONSE TO CUBAN CANDIDACY FOR THE ILO GOVERNING BODY REF: STATE 94801 ¶1. (U) Pol/Econ delivered demarche per reftel 2 June to Director of Bilateral Relations, Mohamed Ali Hassan. Hassan stated that while Djibouti appreciates the U.S. requesting assistance on its neighbor's behalf and explaining why it will be supporting a particular candidate, it has a hard time supporting a country that does not approach Djibouti directly for assistance. He continued that if a country was looking to be elected to a seat in an organization, it should approach its fellow members first, before another member approached others on its behalf. Hassan said that Djibouti sees great value in partnerships and would welcome an approach by Barbados, but without knowing the objectives and goals of Barbados first-hand it would be difficult to lend its support. RAGSDALE