US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI734

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DJIBOUTI 000734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, MOPS, ET, ER, IS, DJ 
SUBJECT: CJTF HOA COMMANDER'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT 
GUELLEH 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  For President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 
Djibouti's participation in the Global War on Terrorism is 
"an honor."   He wants an end to conflict and hostility in 
the Horn of Africa region and is working directly with the 
President of the African Union to bring about a face to face 
meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and 
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.  During the farewell call 
by General Mastin Robeson, Commander of the Combined Joint 
Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA) based at Camp Lemonier 
in Djibouti, Guelleh said he hoped Ethiopia would take the 
first step.  Guelleh also welcomed General Robeson's informal 
proposal for billeting and training of Ugandan, Kenyan and 
perhaps other platoons, at Camp Lemonier.  He told Robeson 
that such acts can help facilitate an  improved political 
climate in the region.  Guelleh hailed Robeson as a "pioneer" 
who had taken responsibility as Commander of CJTF HOA and 
created a good working environment for relations between very 
different peoples.  Guelleh expects to attend the May 22-23 
Tunis Arab League Summit and said the situation in the 
Israeli-occupied territories should top the summit's agenda. 
End summary. 
 
2. (U) General Mastin Robeson, Commander of the Combined 
Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF HOA) based at Camp 
Lemonier in Djibouti, paid a farewell call May 20 on 
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh.  General Robeson 
was accompanied in the call by CJTF HOA incoming commander, 
General Samuel Helland, by Ambassador, and by CJTF HOA 
political advisor Lange Schermerhorn.  Hassan Said Khaireh, 
Director of National Security Services  also sat in on the 
meeting. 
 
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Djibouti and Global War on Terrorism 
------------------------------------ 
 
3. (C) Robeson praised Guelleh as the strongest friend of the 
U.S. in the Horn of Africa region and attributed his own 
success over the past year to Guelleh's personal support.  He 
thanked Guelleh as well for the cooperation of Djibouti's 
military leadership, specifically General Fathi Ahmed 
Hussein, Major General of Djiboutian Armed Forces and General 
Zakaria Ibrahim Cheik, Major General for Djiboutian Defense, 
and for the opportunity given to CJTF HOA to partner with 
them in recent flood relief efforts.  Robeson also spoke of 
the strong relations that have existed between him and French 
forces, especially with their commander, General Gerard Pons. 
 Camp Lemonier, Robeson continued, was the most visible sign 
of friendship between the U.S. and Djibouti.  "You never said 
no and you have taken care of us," Robeson added.  He also 
noted that plans are being developed in Washington to expand 
Camp Lemonier.  Guelleh responded that it was an honor for 
Djibouti to have contributed to the war against terrorism and 
to fighting what he described as "these criminal gangsters, 
especially in this region."  He said he had not yet seen the 
plan for expansion of the Camp, but would like to and would 
study it. 
 
------------------------- 
Ethiopia-Eritrea Conflict 
------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Robeson raised with Guelleh his just-concluded 
farewell trip in the Horn of Africa.  He said he had met with 
President Isaias in Eritrea and with Prime Minister Meles in 
Ethiopia.  Guelleh asked Robeson for his views on why Isaias 
refused to see General Abizaid during the latter's recent 
swing through the region.  Robeson responded that Isaias had 
described the event as a misunderstanding.  He added that 
Isaias does appear to demonstrate concern about the growing 
hostility between Eritrea and Ethiopia.  However, Robeson 
said, the two men are quite different. 
 
5. (C) Guelleh acknowledged the tension between the two 
states and supported the view that the conflict involves 
distinct personalities.  Meles and Isaias "were as brothers 
previously," Guelleh continued.  "Now they are enemies."  He 
urged caution when talking with both men. "Both are tough," 
Guelleh said, and "there is a need to understand deeply the 
best means for their cooperation in order that they can 
achieve a better understanding of each other in social, 
political and other areas." 
6. (C) Guelleh expressed hope that Ethiopia would take the 
first step to find a solution to the Ethiopia-Eritrea 
conflict and to compromise. "Someone should say that there 
are principles that should be applied.  Eritrea is saying 
implement the decision of the Boundary Commission, then talk. 
 Ethiopia is saying let us talk first because there is no 
guarantee that accepting the Boundary Commission's findings 
will make for a permanent peace."  From Ethiopia's 
perspective, Guelleh said, one needs to see how the border 
ruling will affect people on the ground. 
 
7. (C) Robeson replied that he hoped a regionalization of 
focus would help heal these kinds of differences.  He urged a 
NATO-like arrangement for the region that could achieve some 
of the same results seen in the aftermath of World War II in 
Europe.  Guelleh responded positively, saying he believed 
that with respect to Eritrea and Ethiopia, a lack of 
understanding exists from the top.  When two peoples are so 
inter-linked, their Heads of State should be obliged to talk. 
 Guelleh expressed his conviction that if Meles and Isaias 
could talk to each other "if only for one hour," they would 
be able to resolve their differences.  Guelleh told Robeson 
that Djibouti is working directly with the Chairman of the 
African Union to achieve this outcome. 
 
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Looking Towards the Broader Region 
---------------------------------- 
 
8. (C) Robeson noted the initial encouraging signals he had 
received in response to CJTF HOA's regional Chiefs of Defense 
conference which took place in late April, especially to 
proposals for billeting and training an Ugandan and Kenyan 
platoon, and perhaps other troops at Camp Lemonier.  Guelleh 
responded that Djibouti "would be very happy to work with 
them."  He continued that if responsible working level people 
from countries in the region can have good relations with 
each other, that would facilitate an improved political 
climate in the region. 
 
---------------------- 
The Arab League Summit 
---------------------- 
 
9. (C) Ambassador raised with Guelleh his planned departure 
the following day for Tunis to attend the Arab League Summit. 
 Guelleh confirmed his attendance and said he hoped the 
session would be fruitful.  A key item that needs to be 
discussed, he stated, is the situation in the 
Israeli-occupied territories and the activities of Israeli 
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with respect to the Palestinians. 
On a positive note, Guelleh said, Israel had apologized for 
the most recent outcome of its actions in the Rafah refugee 
camp in Gaza.  He said it is important to press firmly for a 
two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the 
Palestinians.  Ambassador responded that President Bush has 
reiterated on more than one occasion his strong support for 
such a solution. She also noted that the U.S. had abstained 
in a mid-week vote at the U.N. on a resolution on Israel's 
incursion into Gaza. 
 
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Change of Command 
-------------------- 
 
10. (C) Robeson referred President Guelleh to his successor, 
General Helland, and briefed on Helland's achievements during 
his long military career.  Helland acknowledged Guelleh's 
welcoming response.  He was pleased to be in Djibouti and 
looked forward to working very closely with Guelleh and the 
members of his team.  Guelleh stated that all in the Horn of 
Africa region welcome the presence of America.  He described 
Robeson as a "pioneer," who had taken responsibility as 
Commander of CJTF HOA, and  had created "something from 
nothing" while developing real relations with components in 
the region.  The result, Guelleh said, has been the creation 
of a good working climate of relations between very different 
peoples. 
 
11. (C) General Robeson cleared on this cable prior to his 
departure from Djibouti. 
RAGSDALE