DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARAB LEAGUE AND UNGA THIRD

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000731 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA, AND NEA/RA LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM UN DJ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARAB LEAGUE AND UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE REF: A. STATE 95334 ¶B. STATE 93939 Classified By: PolOff Rebecca K. Hunter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) PolOff delivered reftel points on the UNGA Third Committee (ref A) and Arab League Ministerial (ref B) to GODJ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for International Organizations Mohamed Idriss Farah on September 7. ¶2. (C) On Arab League issues, Farah said that Djibouti remained committed to supporting the Israel-Palestinian Authority negotiations, and praised the "formidable courage" of President Abbas. On Mauritania, Farah called the current situation "unacceptable," and said that it was necessary to condemn those who stole power by force and reestablish respect for legitimate democratic authorities. He noted that the Arab League's failure to do so would not speak well for the credibility of the organization. ¶3. (C) On UNGA Third Committee points, Farah gave no firm answers about Djibouti's potential votes. However, he said that he thought there was close contact between Djibouti's Ambassador Olhaye and the U.S. Mission to the UN. On country-specific resolutions, Farah skirted around Iran, but said that Djibouti was "shocked" by the human rights situations in Burma and DPRK. (NOTE: Iran is currently financing the construction of Djibouti's new parliament building. END NOTE). On Zimbabwe, Farah said that he thought a resolution could make the situation more "fragile," and said that Mbeki should be given more time. If the current negotiations still fail, Farah said, then it would be desirable to look for other solutions. Farah called Mugabe's long stint in power "inadmissible," and said he thought the international community needed to offer him an "honorable" way out. ¶4. (U) Post will report any additional substantive responses. WONG