SOMALI UN MISSION: WAIVER RECIEVED FOR REPAIRS TO

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000698

SIPDIS

IO/ UNP: S. EDMONDSON; L/DL: S. BENDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP PREL SO
SUBJECT: SOMALI UN MISSION: WAIVER RECIEVED FOR REPAIRS TO
RESIDENCE

REF: A. SECSTATE 63400

B. SECSTATE 108124

C. USUN NEW YORK 0026.


1. On July 14, USUN/HC Minister Counselor met with Somali
Permanent Representative Duale and his deputy re the official
residence at 250 Elk Avenue in New Rochelle, New York. He
presented AMB Duale with note verbale HC-67-09 (text in para
2),which requested a waiver to enable DOS to oversee repairs
to the residence using money held in escrow from the 1995
sale of the former Ambassador's residence in Washington. Both
AMB Duale and the DPR offered their sincere gratitude to the
USG. AMB Duale agreed to send over a note waiving the
property's inviolability (text in para 3). AMB Duale
assigned DPR Mohamed as the Somali Mission's point person for
the project.

2.Begin text of USUN note:

Complimentary salutation "... and takes this opportunity to
advise the Permanent
Mission that property owned by Somalia at 250 Elk Avenue in
New
Rochelle, New York is in urgent need of structural repair.

In an effort to facilitate the improvement of the property,
the
United States Mission requests that the Permanent Mission
execute a
written waiver of the property's inviolability to enable the
Department of State to take such steps as it deems necessary
to
repair the property (including the interior and exterior of
the
residence and the grounds) so that it will conform to all
relevant
codes and neighborhood standards. The United States is
undertaking this to
preserve the property on behalf of the Republic of Somalia.

As the Permanent Mission is aware, the United States
maintains an
account in escrow for the Republic of Somalia with funds from
the
1995 sale of the former residence of the Somalia Ambassador
to the
United States. The United States is prepared to use these
funds to
repair the property as expeditiously as possible.

The United States Mission requests that this waiver be
presented no
later than five days from the date of receipt of this note.
The
United States Mission will, when possible, consult with a
designated member
of the Permanent Mission on the progress of the project. Upon
its completion,
the Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic will be informed
that it may use
the property as the Residence of the Permanent
Representative." Complimentary closing.


3. On July 15, 2009, USUN received the requested waiver from
the Somali Mission.

Begin text of Somali Note SOM/MSS/147/09:

Complimentary salutation "...and has the honour to refer to
the Note Verbale HC-67-09, dated July 14, 2009, in respect of
the property owned by Somalia at 250 Elk Avenue in New
Rochelle, New York, which is in urgent need of structural
repair.

The Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to United
Nations appreciates the offer by the United States Department
of State to take all necessary steps to repair the property
(including the interior and exterior of the residence and the
grounds) so that it will conform to all relevant codes and
neighborhood standards, as expeditiously as possible.

Fully cognizant that the United States is using the account
maintained by the United States in escrow for the Republic of
Somalia from the 1995 sale of the former residence of the
Somalia Ambassador to the United States.

Towards this end, the Permanent Mission of the Somali
Republic to the United Nations has the honour to grant as
requested, waiver of the property's inviolability to enable
the Department of State to execute the needed repairs, after


which the property shall be used as the residence of the
Permanent Representative.

In this connection, Mr. Idd Beddel Mohamed, Deputy Permanent
Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Somali
Republic to the United Nations is designated on the progress
of the project." Complimentary closing.
RICE