UN REFORM: PRIORITIES RAISED WITH DJIBOUTI

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000601

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2015
TAGS: KUNR PREL PGOV AORC DJ UNSC
SUBJECT: UN REFORM: PRIORITIES RAISED WITH DJIBOUTI

REF: A. STATE 111657


B. STATE 111637

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


1. (C) Ambassador conveyed contents of reftels (A) and (B)
June 22 to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Ali Yousuf.
Yousuf had already seen a number of documents over the
internet conveying the U.S. position. He said the U.S. had
made its position quite clear on these issues in other fora
as well. He did not commit on behalf of his government to a
parallel stance on specific U.S. priorities, but welcomed
Ambassador's brief and said his government would review the
non-paper she left with him.


2. (C) Yousuf queried the Ambassador whether, in the U.S.
view, the meeting planned for September (high-level event)
could bring about a consensus on reform. While acknowledging
that the period of time is short between June and September,
Ambassador said the U.S. was optimistic that such an event
could achieve success.


3. (C) Yousuf also asked if the U.S. had decided to eliminate
from consideration for support specific countries lobbying
for Security Council membership, such as Egypt, South Africa
or Nigeria. Ambassador replied that no country was "off the
table" in U.S. considerations for membership in the Security
Council but that issues such as human rights and progress in
democratization are certain to weigh heavily in a U.S.
decision on nations whose membership quest it would support.
RAGSDALE