US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI855

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000855 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, CASC, DJ 
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF DJIBOUTI REACTION TO MURDER OF PAUL 
JOHNSON 
 
REF: SECSTATE 135081 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Marguerita D. Ragsdale. 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Pol/Econ delivered demarche, per reftel, to Director 
of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 
Mohamed Ali Hassan, 21 June, urging the Government of 
Djibouti to publicly denounce the murder of American citizen 
Paul Johnson.  Hassan responded that  the Government of 
Djibouti's position on acts of terrorism such as this one is 
very well known, even if it is not regularly publicized. 
 
2. (C) Hassan made clear that the Government of Djibouti 
denounces this type of action, against any civilian American 
or otherwise, as barbaric and unacceptable.  He said Djibouti 
has always been a good friend to and stood with the United 
States against terrorism.  Hassan then asked whether 
Washington was the one asking for a public message. 
 
3. (C) Pol/Econ confirmed that the demarche was by request 
from Washington and the U.S. would like the government's 
stance to be public in order to make known that these acts 
are condemned by all nations throughout the world.  Hassan 
commented that the reason press statements are not released 
after each attack of this nature is that the Government of 
Djibouti is not well organized and does not have adequate 
press service to release such statements.  Hassan continued 
that the Government's one press attach is currently occupied 
by the Somalia issues in Nairobi.  Nevertheless, Hassan said 
he would bring up the issue of a press release with the 
Minister to see if it could be done. 
 
4. (C) Comment: Embassy is not optimistic the Government of 
Djibouti will take a public stand on the Johnson murder.  Its 
officials have made clear, however, in private comments to 
Embassy officers their personal condemnation of the killing 
of Johnson.  In most cases, this condemnation has been on 
religious grounds.  Ambassador, in her conversations with 
officials, has nevertheless urged a public statement.  End 
Comment. 
RAGSDALE