DJIBOUTI AND REPORTING IRAN TO UNITED NATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000063

SIPDIS

STATE FOR UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL JOSEPH
STATE ALSO FOR AF, NEA, AF/RA AND AF/E
NSC FOR AF DIRECTOR DR. COURVILLE
PARIS, LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2016
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL AORC IR EU DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI AND REPORTING IRAN TO UNITED NATIONS
SECURITY COUNCIL

REF: SECSTATE 6236

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


1. (C) Per reftel instructions, Ambassador briefed Djibouti's
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Yousuf January 14 on U.S. views
regarding Iran's decision to proceed with uranium enrichment
activities. In a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA),Ambassador conveyed talking points provided in reftel
as well as text of the European Union (EU) and U.S.
ministerial statements issued after the decision. Although
non-papers shared were in English, Ambassador promised to
provide formal French translations for MFA use within the
next few days.


2. (C) The Foreign Minister responded that if the matter of
Iran is referred to the United Nations, and sanctions are
instituted, the results will be disastrous for economies of
the Horn of Africa region. He expressed the view that oil
prices would certainly rise as a result of sanctions,
compounding the region's economic instability. The Minister
stated that Djibouti would not like to see sanctions
implemented against Iran and that it hoped the problem could
be resolved diplomatically. Iran has no diplomatic mission
in Djibouti but the Foreign Minister said his government is
working through other channels to encourage a positive
Iranian response to the demands of the international
community.


3. (C) The Foreign Minister expressed to the Ambassador the
view that the actions of Iran's president in moving to
proceed with enrichment appear aimed at the Iranian internal
audience rather than the international community. He
concluded that there is no logical way to explain the
position Iran has taken on this issue, as well as on other
issues such as Israel's right to exist, except in these
terms. It appears, the Foreign Minister added, that Iran's
president is seeking to gain a large measure of support from
the country's conservatives, a move consistent with his
efforts to roll back some of the reforms seen in Iran during
the Khatami era.
RAGSDALE