SOMALI PERMREP'S RESIDENCE: OBTAINING TFG APPROVAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000713 SIPDIS FOR IO/UNP - S. EDMONDSON, L/DL - S. BENDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OFDP PREL SO SUBJECT: SOMALI PERMREP'S RESIDENCE: OBTAINING TFG APPROVAL FOR LIMITED WAIVER OF INVIOLABILITY REF: SECSTATE 82138 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. Action request - See Paragraph 3. ¶2. During U.S. Deputy Permrep Wolff's meeting August 7 to discuss political developments (septel) with Somali UN Mission Deputy Permrep Idd Beddel Mohamed, Ambassador Wolff raised the long-standing problem of serious health and safety hazards at the unoccupied residence in New Rochelle, New York, owned by Somalia's UN Mission (reftels). USUN delivered a diplomatic note on August 1, 2008, requesting that Somalia execute a limited waiver of inviolability to enable New Rochelle officials to enter the premises and remedy the property's health and safety hazards. The diplomatic note also conveyed that, in the absence of a waiver, the Department would revisit the diplomatic status of the property, including its inviolability and exemption from property taxes. Somalia's Mohamed, after mentioning his country's chronic lack of funds and that his Mission had considered selling the residence, indicated that he hoped to have a favorable reply from the TFG by August 15 regarding the waiver. Mohamed also recommended that Ambassador Yates weigh in with the TFG on the importance of this issue to maximize the likelihood that the TFG will approve the waiver expeditiously. ¶3. Action request - We request that Department ask Ambassador Yates to raise the importance of this matter with the TFG and the need to approve the waiver expeditiously. Khalilzad