DJIBOUTI ON IRAN UNSCRS: FRIENDS SHOULD BE FRANK

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000814 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, ISN/RA, IO/T, AND NEA/IR LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018 TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL IR DJ SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI ON IRAN UNSCRS: FRIENDS SHOULD BE FRANK REF: STATE 105173 Classified By: PolOff Rebecca K. Hunter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) PolOff delivered reftel points on all UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) adopted on Iran to GODJ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for International Organizations Mohamed Idriss Farah on October 15. ¶2. (C) Farah affirmed Djibouti's strong interest in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability, calling those who would develop a nuclear weapon in Iran "mad" and the "extremists of the extremists." It would be "terrifying" and a "problem for all of humanity" if Iran developed a nuclear weapon. Therefore, he agreed that it was "normal" for the international community to try to prevent this from happening. ¶3. (C) Despite the lack of any diplomatic presence in each others' countries, Farah acknowledged Djibouti's generally good relationship with Iran. (NOTE: Iran is funding the construction of Djibouti's new $20 million National Assembly building, as well as an additional project to renovate Djibouti City's marketplace. END NOTE.). However, Farah insisted that "true friendship must be totally frank," and said that Djibouti could still criticize Iran on nuclear issues. "It's Djibouti's nomadic tradition," he said, "always to tell your friend the truth, even if it's disagreeable." ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Djibouti will likely follow the lead of other Arab League members. Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf recently travelled to Istanbul to join the foreign ministers of Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Syria at the first-ever ministerial meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum, held on October 11. FM Youssouf will next accompany Djibouti's President Guelleh to the October 17-19 Francophonie Summit in Quebec. END COMMENT. WONG