Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DJIBOUTI542
2008-06-20 13:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
DJIBOUTIANS WANT MORE TEETH FROM UN
how-toVZCZCXRO4295 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHDJ #0542 1721313 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201313Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9329 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA 1709 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000542
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF, P, IO, S/CT, PM & INR/GGI
CJTF HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS AU ER YM DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTIANS WANT MORE TEETH FROM UN
REF: DJIBOUTI 531 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE KATHLEEN LIST FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000542
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF, P, IO, S/CT, PM & INR/GGI
CJTF HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS AU ER YM DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTIANS WANT MORE TEETH FROM UN
REF: DJIBOUTI 531 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE KATHLEEN LIST FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf
called CDA June 19 to put forward the concerns he and the
Prime Minister, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, will present to the
UN Security Council the afternoon of June 24. He mentioned
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's phone calls to
Presidents Guelleh and Isaias three days ago, in which he
noted Isaias' complete rejection of a political solution to
the current border exchange of hostilities. The Minister
claimed Isaias is comfortable with the military stand-off and
the tension at Ras Doumeira. Djibouti, however, wants
dialogue to resolve the situation as soon as possible. "If
the Eritreans do not want to dialogue, then the international
community will have to intervene to keep the Eritreans away
from our border." The Djiboutian goal in New York is the
adoption of a resolution, "something more binding" than was
issued last week, that will put pressure on Eritrea to
withdraw its troops to the status quo ante of February 4.
The Djiboutians have already withdrawn 18 kilometers to
Moulhoule from Ras Doumeira; they want the Eritreans to
withdraw at least five kilometers to Raheita, if not further
north. The Minister stated that the Eritreans are building
fortifications in the area.
2. (C) The Minister emphasized that he had received
diplomatic support from a wide variety of friends of
Djibouti. He indicated the UK Deputy Minister of Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs had made a commitment to work with them,
as had the French, to get a resolution passed quickly. He
said he was assured by the Russian Ambassador in Djibouti
that Russia was also willing to help; in addition he cited
the good relations the government had with South Africa. He
claimed most non-permanent members of the UNSC were prepared
to support Djibouti. His only concern was the Libyan
position, which he characterized as one of putting obstacles
before Djiboutian efforts at peace.
3. (C) Prime Minister Dileita and the Foreign Minister leave
Djibouti on Saturday, June 21, with a lay-over in Paris. On
Sunday they will proceed to New York and attempt to meet with
as many representatives as possible before Tuesday
afternoon's UNSC meeting. The Minister requested that Africa
Deputy Assistant Secretary Swan contact Ambassador Olhaye to
further discuss the matter prior to the Djiboutian
delegation's arrival in New York.
4. (C) COMMENT: The claim that the Eritreans are building
fortifications on the Eritrean side of the border, digging in
literally, would imply a defensive rather than offensive
mind-set with a longer-term presence envisaged. We continue
to monitor the situation. END COMMENT.
LIST
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF, P, IO, S/CT, PM & INR/GGI
CJTF HOA FOR POLAD
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS MOPS AU ER YM DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTIANS WANT MORE TEETH FROM UN
REF: DJIBOUTI 531 (AND PREVIOUS)
Classified By: CHARGEE KATHLEEN LIST FOR REASONS 1.4 B, D.
1. (C) Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf
called CDA June 19 to put forward the concerns he and the
Prime Minister, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, will present to the
UN Security Council the afternoon of June 24. He mentioned
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's phone calls to
Presidents Guelleh and Isaias three days ago, in which he
noted Isaias' complete rejection of a political solution to
the current border exchange of hostilities. The Minister
claimed Isaias is comfortable with the military stand-off and
the tension at Ras Doumeira. Djibouti, however, wants
dialogue to resolve the situation as soon as possible. "If
the Eritreans do not want to dialogue, then the international
community will have to intervene to keep the Eritreans away
from our border." The Djiboutian goal in New York is the
adoption of a resolution, "something more binding" than was
issued last week, that will put pressure on Eritrea to
withdraw its troops to the status quo ante of February 4.
The Djiboutians have already withdrawn 18 kilometers to
Moulhoule from Ras Doumeira; they want the Eritreans to
withdraw at least five kilometers to Raheita, if not further
north. The Minister stated that the Eritreans are building
fortifications in the area.
2. (C) The Minister emphasized that he had received
diplomatic support from a wide variety of friends of
Djibouti. He indicated the UK Deputy Minister of Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs had made a commitment to work with them,
as had the French, to get a resolution passed quickly. He
said he was assured by the Russian Ambassador in Djibouti
that Russia was also willing to help; in addition he cited
the good relations the government had with South Africa. He
claimed most non-permanent members of the UNSC were prepared
to support Djibouti. His only concern was the Libyan
position, which he characterized as one of putting obstacles
before Djiboutian efforts at peace.
3. (C) Prime Minister Dileita and the Foreign Minister leave
Djibouti on Saturday, June 21, with a lay-over in Paris. On
Sunday they will proceed to New York and attempt to meet with
as many representatives as possible before Tuesday
afternoon's UNSC meeting. The Minister requested that Africa
Deputy Assistant Secretary Swan contact Ambassador Olhaye to
further discuss the matter prior to the Djiboutian
delegation's arrival in New York.
4. (C) COMMENT: The claim that the Eritreans are building
fortifications on the Eritrean side of the border, digging in
literally, would imply a defensive rather than offensive
mind-set with a longer-term presence envisaged. We continue
to monitor the situation. END COMMENT.
LIST