Somalia-Ambassador's Letters to TFG President and

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 001931 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF A/S FRAZER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SO ET SUBJECT: Somalia-Ambassador's Letters to TFG President and Hawiye Elder REF: Nairobi 1905 Classified by PolOff Hodan Hassan. Reasons 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Following telecon with Hawiye Leadership Committee Chairman Haji Abdi Iman Omar, and in an effort to support the critical dialogue process, the Ambassador sent the following letters to Transitional Federal Government President Abdullahi Yusuf and Chairman Haji Abdi Iman (Imaam). ¶2. (C) The text of the letter to Yusuf reads as follows: Quote. Dear Mr. President: As we have discussed, meaningful dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government, and particularly yourself, with all Somalis who renounce violence and extremism, and especially with the Hawiye clan in Mogadishu, are critical to achieve national reconciliation. As Assistant Secretary Frazer stated during the meeting in Baidoa, we strongly feel that the only way to ensure stability and security is through an inclusive political process. I therefore want to express the appreciation of the United States for the steps you personally have taken over the past several days to foster such dialogue and to ensure that there is no further return to conflict. In this regard, I called Haji Abdi Imaam Omar yesterday to discuss recent developments. --He was positive about your constructive attitude in the discussions you had with the Hawiye elders on Sunday, April ¶29. He expressed his commitment to continue the dialogue with the TFG to ensure the peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution of outstanding issues. --I emphasized to Mr. Omar, as I also emphasize to you, the critical importance of agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and developing a credible agenda for the upcoming National Reconciliation Congress, to include power-sharing and a roadmap to the 2009 elections. --I also stressed the need for the Hawiye to take whatever steps are necessary to marginalize extremists and those who espouse violence. Mr. Omar assured me that his community is committed to doing this. I believe that these discussions hold the potential to achieve lasting peace and a successful National Reconciliation Congress. In that sprit, I want to emphasize U.S. support for the dialogue that you have underway. On a related issue, I understand that there may be attempts in the Transitional Federal Parliament to pass legislation that would eliminate the independent status of the National Governance Reconciliation Committee and place it under the management of the government. While I do not want to interfere in the matters of the Parliament, I would like to emphasize that any steps that affect the ability of the National Governance Reconciliation Committee to operate independently will discourage meaningful participation in the National Reconciliation Congress and will severely diminish its legitimacy. I want to assure you that the United States will continue to support the efforts to achieve stability and security in Somalia. I look forward to remaining in close contact. End quote. ¶3. (C) The text of the letter to Omar reads as follows: Quote. Dear Mr. Omar: It was a pleasure to talk with you yesterday on the on- going political developments in Mogadishu. As we had discussed, meaningful dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government with all Somalis who renounce violence and extremism, and especially with the Hawiye clan in Mogadishu, are critical to achieve national reconciliation. As Assistant Secretary Frazer stated during her press conference in Baidoa, we strongly feel that the only way to NAIROBI 00001931 002 OF 002 ensure stability and security is through an inclusive political process. I therefore want to express the appreciation of the United States for the steps you and the Hawiye Leadership Committee have taken over the past several days to engage in such dialogue and to ensure that there is no further return to conflict. In this regard, I sent a letter to President Abdullahi Yusuf to reaffirm the following points: --I expressed appreciation for the constructive attitude in the discussions he had with the Hawiye elders on Sunday, April 29. --I emphasized to President Yusuf, as I also emphasize to you, the critical importance of agreeing to a permanent ceasefire and contributing to the development of a credible agenda for the upcoming National Reconciliation Congress, to include power-sharing and a roadmap to the 2009 elections. --I also stressed the need to safeguard the independent status of the National Governance Reconciliation Committee in order to encourage meaningful participation in the National Reconciliation Congress. I believe that the discussions you are having with President Yusuf hold the potential to achieve lasting peace and a successful National Reconciliation Congress. In that sprit, I want to emphasize U.S. support for the dialogue that you have underway. I want to assure you that the United States will continue to support the efforts to achieve stability and security in Somalia. I look forward to remaining in close contact. End quote. RANNEBERGER