US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI758

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000758 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, EINV, SOCI, PREL, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL ANTI-TOBACCO DAY 
 
 1. (U) The Ministry of Health and the World Health 
Organization co-hosted Djibouti's celebration of the "Journee 
Mondiale Sans Tabac (International Anti-Tobacco Day) on May 
31.  Pol/Econ officer joined international organization 
members and women's groups in attendance at the 
mini-conference the Ministry organized that covered the 
economic, social, health and religious impacts of tobacco 
use.  Khat chewing and Shisha smoking were also addressed as 
health risks that fall in the same category as smoking. 
Speeches given focused on an overarching link between poverty 
and the higher prevalence of tobacco addiction and other 
health issues related to tobacco.  The May 31 edition of La 
Nation ran an article on the health risks of tobacco uses, 
drawing many of their points from speeches given at the 
conference.  RTD (Radio Television Djibouti) was present at 
the conference and was expected to air details of the 
conference on the nation's evening news programs. 
 
2. (U) The coverage given to anti-tobacco campaigns in a 
country where more than 50 percent of the population smokes 
may be a trend that began in the higher ranks of the 
government.  In a May 16 broadcast of CNN's "Diplomatic 
License" hosted by Richard Roth, Djiboutian Ambassador to the 
United States Roble Olhaye spoke briefly on Djibouti's recent 
signing of the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 
Ambassador Olhaye commented that there have been small 
successes in reducing smoking but with the signing of the 
treaty, he said he fully expected a greater impact.  Djibouti 
signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control two days 
after the U.S. signed. 
RAGSDALE