US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI468

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000468 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, PGOV, DJ 
SUBJECT: LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR BASE NEGOTIATIONS 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (U)  This is an action cable. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (C) Groundwork must be laid to ensure the upcoming round 
of lease negotiations transpire as smoothly as possible.  To 
this end, U.S. Embassy Djibouti proposes to hold a 
coordination meeting between French forces in Djibouti (FFDJ) 
and MARCENT Djibouti (MDJ) to pave the way for future lease 
negotiations.  Additionally, we ask that U.S. Embassy 
Djibouti be allowed to announce lease negotiations to the 
Government of Djibouti via diplomatic note when all parties 
concerned are prepared to proceed. 
 
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Good Neighbors 
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3. (C)  Currently, other than Camp Lemonier, no other 
military facilities exist on the South side of Ambouli 
International Airport.  MDJ wishes to acquire land to the 
East and access to the sea in order to facilitate required 
expansion plans.  The commander of FFDJ, MG Gerard Pons, has 
informally shared on several occasions with the Embassy and 
with Commander of CJTF-HOA an FFDJ desire for future 
construction plans on the south side of the runway.  From 
discussions with both MDJ and FFDJ it appears that both 
parties should be able to accomplish their respective 
expansion projects.  However, to preserve the current 
goodwill and prevent future conflict, both parties should 
conduct a meeting soon to lay out exact requirements and 
space needs of each side.  U.S. Embassy Djibouti is willing 
to host such a meeting during the planned April 25-27 trip to 
Djibouti by the OSD, Joint Staff, and CENTCOM.  Such a 
meeting will clear the air, dispel any suspicions and put the 
USG in a good position prior to the renegotiation of the Base 
Access Agreement for Camp Lemonier. 
 
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Facilitating Communication 
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4. (C)  When the decision is made to move forward with new 
lease negotiations, we propose that the USG inform the 
Djiboutian government via diplomatic note from this Embassy. 
While we hold no illusions that this will ensure all relevant 
parties coordinate and collaborate within the Djiboutian 
government, it will put us on the high ground here in 
Djibouti when confronted by members of the DJG who claim to 
have been "cut out" of the process. 
 
5. (C) We have not been notified officially by the Djiboutian 
government who will negotiate for Djibouti in the next round 
of negotiations for Camp Lemonier.  However, it is a safe 
assumption that it will be Ambassador Olhaye in Washington, 
D.C.  It is also no secret among the Djibouti watchers that 
Ambassador Olhaye is not well liked by other senior members 
of the Djiboutian MFA or military.  As has been noted in past 
cables, the current lease for Camp Lemonier caused discontent 
amongst Djiboutian military members when it was discovered 
that their air base (otherwise known as the presidential 
hangar) had been, in their view, "given away."  Notifying the 
DJG via diplomatic note from this Embassy will make clear to 
all concerned that there is no intention on our part to hide 
the process from anyone. 
RAGSDALE