US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI985

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000985 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM AMBASSADOR RAGSDALE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR ISA AFRICA DAS THERESA WHELAN; 
DEFENSE ALSO FOR DSCA EUROPE, RUSSIA, AMERICAS AND 
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DIRECTOR JEANNE FARMER; STATE FOR AF/DAS 
DON YAMAMOTO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, MARR, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S MILITARY CHIEF CONCERNED ABOUT SLOW FMF 
DELIVERIES 
 
REF: A. 03 STATE 32498 
     B. 03 STATE 49476 
     C. 03 DJIBOUTI 2084 
     D. 03 DJIBOUTI 1396 
     E. DJIBOUTI 185 
     F. DJIBOUTI 239 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.(U) Action requested at paragraph four. 
 
2. (C) For the second time in three months, most recently 
during a meeting 7/19 at Djiboutian military headquarters, 
the Head of Djibouti's Armed Forces, General Fathi Ahmed 
Houssein, raised personally with Ambassador his considerable 
disquiet over the slow pace of acquisition and delivery of 
U.S. military defense equipment requested under the U.S. 
Foreign Military Financing Program (FMF).  Since the dates of 
request by General Fathi for select military items, primarily 
between March and July, 2003, and subsequent Letters of 
Request (LORs), only one Letter of Acceptance (LOA) has been 
signed and none of the requested equipment has been delivered 
or is enroute to Djibouti.  Oustanding equipment for Djibouti 
under FMF are: 
 
-- Heavy Road Construction Equipment (LOR October '02; LOA 17 
July '03; only spare parts have begun to arrive in country.); 
- 
-- Reconnaissance Helicopters (LOR 30 July '03; Awaiting OSD 
decision) 
- 
-- Airfield Radar (LOR 30 July '03; Received ROM data; 
awaiting Govt. of Djibouti decision) 
- 
-- Coastal Radar (LOR 30 July '03; Awaiting Technical 
Assessment; Updated LOR 25 March '04); 
- 
-- Fast Patrol Boats (LOR 30 July '03; New LOR 14 March 04; 
JVI to take place after assessment visit 30 July) 
- 
-- Toyota Land Cruisers (LOR 9 May '04; Awaiting LOA; with 
TACOM) 
- 
-- Wheeled Vehicle Package (LOR 30 July '03; with TACOM) 
- 
-- Spare Parts for Wheeled Vehicles (LOR 30 July 03; with 
USASAC) 
- 
-- Communications Equipment for Wheeled Vehicles (LOR 30 July 
03; with CECOM); 
- 
-- Automation Package (LOR 30 July '03; with IA) 
- 
-- Small Arms (M4 Carbines, M9 pistols, shot guns, M24 Sniper 
systems, MK19 Grenade Launchers, M2 .50 caliber) (LOR 30 July 
'03; with TACOM). 
- 
 
3. (C) Reftels relate Djibouti's long-standing concern about 
the slow pace of FMF deliveries.  Djibouti has considerable 
International Military Education and Training (IMET) and FMF 
programs. FMF alone currently stands at USD 15.28 million and 
is expected to rise. 
 
4. (C) Action requested:  We are concerned that the slow pace 
of delivery of the equipment Djibouti has requested could 
become a key bilateral issue in upcoming U.S.- Djiboutian 
talks on renewal of access to Camp Lemonier.  The issue is 
already impacting relations with General Fathi at the Embassy 
level.  President Guelleh is also interested in this aspect 
of our military relationship and has requested Department of 
Foreign Affairs involvement in tracking of military 
assistance.  Request urgent DOD - DOS coordinated response 
that Ambassador can use to share with Government of Djibouti, 
and specifically General Fathi, that might allay concerns 
being expressed to us on the issue of FMF delivery. 
RAGSDALE