US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI581

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000581 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, MOPS, IZ, DJ 
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER AND MINISTER OF COOPERATION OFFER 
REASSURANCES ON ISSUE OF IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (C) Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Abdi Farah, and 
Minister of Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA), Mohamoud Ali Youssef, both drew Ambassador 
aside April 15, on the margins of an emergency meeting with 
heads of diplomatic missions on the subject of the flood 
disaster in Djibouti, to apologize -- and to reassure her -- 
in light of negative statements made the day prior by the 
President of Djibouti's National Assembly, Idriss Arnaoud 
Ali, on coalition Iraq policy.  Both ministers stated that 
the National Assembly President's remarks did not reflect the 
official policy of Djibouti. 
 
2. (C) The controversial remarks were made in a speech by 
Idriss Arnaoud Ali during the opening ceremony April 14 of 
the National Assembly's first ordinary parliamentary session 
for the 5th Legislature. In attendance had been the Prime 
Minister of Djibouti, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, cabinet 
members, heads of diplomatic missions and international 
organizations accredited to Djibouti and the 65 members of 
Djibouti's National Assembly. 
 
3. (U) The National Assembly President's remarks, in our 
translation from French, were as follows: "The difficult 
situation prevailing today in Iraq preoccupies us a great 
deal. A widespread confrontation is being placed against 
Iraqis by the coalition forces.  The latest, far from 
bringing the Iraqi people peace, prosperity and democracy, so 
much promised and so much touted, is bringing on the contrary 
death, misery, suffering and domination.  Moreover, over the 
course of the past week, this war has reached its highest 
climax.  We deplore the several hundred deaths, especially 
civilian victims, whose only offense is having reclaimed 
their national sovereignty.  This situation must not endure, 
because it is all about innocent persons, women, children, 
who aspire only to live simply, in their own homes, in their 
country, and completely free.  We have the obligation to 
awaken consciences and to decry this lack of respect for 
human rights.  The National Assembly condemns without 
reservation all attacks on the sovereignty of Iraq, asks 
forces of the coalition to evacuate this country, and to 
leave the Iraqi people free to choose their own destiny." 
 
4. (C) The Minister of Foreign Affairs told the Ambassador 
that the statements "had not been cleared" by the President 
and do not reflect official Djiboutian policy on Iraq. 
Ambassador responded that she had been concerned because the 
remarks were harsh and inbalanced. The Minister agreed and 
repeated that the remarks do not reflect policy.  A few 
minutes later, MFA Minister of Cooperation Youssef repeated 
the Foreign Minister's apology to Ambassador and advised her 
that he had personally chided the National Assembly President 
after they were made.  He continued that Idriss had been 
responding to the audience for which the remarks were 
tailored and had not meant to imply that they were official 
policy. 
 
5. (C) Comment: There were actually two disturbing aspects of 
the speeches given on the occasion in question:  (1) the 
remarks on Iraq by Idriss Arnaoud Ali; and (2) the remarks on 
foreign country "partnerships" with Djibouti, made by Prime 
Minister Dileita.  Dileita failed to mention the United 
States, and cited only France, China, the Arab world, Iran 
and India in a discussion of "cooperation partnerships" now 
and in the future for Djibouti. The oversight of the U.S., 
and especially the humanitarian projects of CJTF-HOA, were 
vigorously raised by Ambassador with both Ministers. It may 
indeed have been a question of the intended audience, in this 
context, but the need for officials to obfuscate may be as 
telling as their subsequent need to apologize.  End comment. 
RAGSDALE