US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI594

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/E AND EUR 
CJTF-HOA PASS MARCENT DJIBOUTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, FR, DJ 
SUBJECT: NEW FRENCH MFA/DEFENSE JOINT STATEMENT IS ATTEMPT 
TO CALM DJIBOUTIAN WATERS 
 
REF: A. DJIBOUTI 590 B. DJIBOUTI 585 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (U) Djibouti's media is giving broad coverage to a joint 
statement issued April 20 by France's Ministries of Defense 
and Foreign Affairs on the controversial Judge Bernard Borrel 
affair, involving the state of Djibouti (see reftels).  The 
text, unofficially translated by Embassy Djibouti, is as 
follows: 
- 
"Within the framework of the investigation underway into the 
death of Judge Borrel, some documents classified 
"secret-defense" have recently been declassified.  This 
measure had been requested by the Djiboutian authorities 
themselves. It has allowed these documents to be added to the 
case file.  Contrary to assertions put forward by diverse 
organs of the press, nothing in these documents permit one to 
conclude that the Djiboutian authorities are involved.  Any 
other statement does not conform to reality." 
 
2. (C) The text of the statement is along the lines of the 
language France's Ambassador Philippe Selz had proposed to 
his government, and that he said he believed might help calm 
matters between the countries. (See reftel A).  Selz 
telephoned Ambassador April 21 to state that "the storm is 
over," at least for now.  He told Ambassador, and French 
General Gerard Pons, Commander of French Forces stationed in 
Djibouti subsequently confirmed to her, that relations 
between Djibouti and France are returning to normal.  Both 
said that earlier, French military forces had resumed their 
routine interactions with Djiboutian forces. 
 
3. (C) Comment: The concern of French officials here is that 
real control over the case's publicity ultimately rests with 
Borrel's widow.  She is not likely to keep the matter low-key 
and we cannot predict future Djiboutian government reactions 
to any new revelations in this tragic case.  End comment. 
RAGSDALE