US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI531

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000531 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR OBO AND AF/EX 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, ABLD, AMGT, DJ 
SUBJECT:  TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE REQUESTING LAND PURCHASE 
FOR NEC - DJIBOUTI 
 
REF:  DJIBOUTI 528 
 
1. (SBU)  Following is text of the diplomatic note to the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the Ministry's 
approval to purchase land for Embassy Djibouti's NEC.  The 
text was delivered in French to the Ministry April 12. 
(See reftel.) 
 
2. (SBU)  Begin text: 
Note Number 041 
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Republic of Djibouti and has the honor to request the 
Ministry's approval to purchase that piece of land located 
in Salines Est, containing a total area of approximately 
40,321 square meters (forty thousand three hundred and 
twenty one square meters), and all rights of easements and 
appurtenances belonging to the said land to be developed 
as the Embassy Compound of the United States of America in 
Djibouti and notionally identified in attached Exhibit A. 
Exhibit A is for identification purposes only and will be 
permanently defined by a formal boundary survey to be 
conducted prior to settlement. 
 
The United States of America hereby submits an offer to 
purchase the property for a price of U.S. Dollars 
1,800,000 (one million, eight hundred thousand dollars). 
This offer is subject to our ability to satisfy normal due 
diligence conditions as well as final U.S. Government and 
Congressional approvals.  If this price is acceptable, we 
are prepared to immediately commence finalization of the 
appropriate purchase agreement documents necessary for the 
transaction.  The purchase price includes the requirement 
for filling of the land, compacting the fill and 
installation and delivery of utilities to the property. 
 
In light of the provisions of the Vienna Conventions on 
Diplomatic and Consular Relations concerning the payment 
of taxes by diplomatic and consular missions, the Embassy 
further requests the Republic of Djibouti, also in the 
spirit of reciprocity, to exempt it from the payment of 
all dues, taxes and fees directly assessed against a 
foreign government in connection with the purchase of 
property for its diplomatic mission, such fees to include 
exemption from recordation and/or transfer taxes which the 
United States would otherwise be obligated to pay as well 
as any and all other charges which do not constitute fees 
for specific services.  It is requested that an 
acknowledgment and approval of this request be written and 
delivered to the Embassy on or before April 25, 2004. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself 
of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti the assurances of its 
highest consideration. 
 
US.Embassy Djibouti 
Djibouti, April 11, 2004. 
Enclosed document: 
- Annex A. 
 
End text of diplomatic note. 
 
RAGSDALE