US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1186

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 001186 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR ISA AFRICA DAS THERESA WHELAN; 
DEFENSE ALSO FOR DSCA EUROPE, RUSSIA, AMERICAS AND 
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DIRECTOR JEANNE FARMER; DSCA ALSO FOR 
JIM MINER; STATE FOR AF/DAS DON YAMAMOTO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, MARR, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S RESPONSE ON STATUS OF FMF 
 
REF: A. DJIBOUTI 1038 
 
     B. SECDEF MSG 222015Z JUL 04 
     C. DJIBOUTI 985 
     D. DJIBOUTI 239 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (U) Following Ambassador's July 28 briefing to Major 
General of the Armed Forces, Col. Osman Sobaghleh, on status 
of FMF cases for Djibouti as outlined in reftel (B), 
Ambassador received a written reply August 4 from General 
Fathi Ahmed Houssein, General of Djibouti's Armed Forces. 
Embassy translation of the text of the reply follows at para 
2. 
 
2. (U) Begin text: 
- 
August 4, 2004 
- 
Her Excellency Mme. Ambassador of the United States in 
Djibouti 
- 
Subject:  Foreign Military Financing (FMF) 
Ref:  Your unnumbered letter, 29 July 2004 
- 
I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 29 July 2004 
regarding the FMF intended for the Djiboutian Armed Forces. 
- 
I thank you especially for the good presentation of this 
program and its updating.  I am convinced that such an 
approach goes in the direction of reinforcing the already 
profitable relations between our two countries. 
- 
However, I regret to note that the delay in putting into 
place of the funds and that by consequence, the materials 
have not yet arrived at their destination.  We feel a major 
concern about these excessive delays in delivery of these 
materials. 
- 
Referring to the state of the program that you submitted to 
me, permit me to transmit to you, in return, the necessary 
observations that I have found: 
 
- The heavy engineering equipment for road construction is 
pending for a year and a half now. 
- 
- Training with members of CJTF-HOA is proceeding slowly. 
- 
- In June, the Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were requested to 
be replaced with Land Rovers. 
- 
- Regarding parts and equipment for vehicles, the letters of 
acceptance DJ-B-BAL and DJ-B-BAM have already been signed and 
were sent in July, 2004. 
- 
- The air radar system was proposed in the summer for common 
use with U.S. forces in Djibouti and we wish to carry out 
this program with MARCENT (sic) Command in Bahrain. (Embassy 
comment: General Fathi seems to be confusing two separate 
potential projects.  In recent conversations with USLO Chief, 
General Fathi expressed a desire to develop joint programs 
for both air field radar at Camp Lemonier/Ambouli Airfield 
and coastal radar.  Fathi was told that such programs would 
likely have to be coordinated through MARCENT (for airfield 
radar) and NAVCENT (i.e. Bahrain) for coastal radar.  End 
comment) 
- 
- For the five fast high-speed motorboats and patrol craft, a 
delegation has already been assigned for the project.  We are 
still waiting for an answer. 
- 
- For the Obock Naval Base, the commission arrived in July 
and began its study, and we would like that the work begin 
quickly. 
- 
- Regarding Hummer vehicles, we note that the delivery period 
of 24 months is too long and we are in dire need of them for 
territorial security. 
- 
- The renovation of the frontier border stations has been the 
subject of a recent study to evaluate the work needed and we 
wish that this begin rather quickly. 
- 
- The reconnaissance helicopters are on continuing on standby. 
- 
However, as you have well underscored, the global war on 
terrorism is growing day by day and always with new facets. 
- 
Security of maritime coasts and land borders are of cardinal 
importance, and the mixed patrols between our two forces 
began some time ago. 
- 
This is why I have the honor to ask you to intervene with the 
appropriate authorities, as you have done before, in order 
that the process of funding and acquisition be accelerated so 
that our units are able to ensure their mission to protect 
and secure host forces present within the territory, within 
the framework of the global war on terrorism. 
- 
Our common concern today remains the security of host forces, 
and my responsibility as General of the Army pushes me to 
personally ask you that these materials get to us rather 
quickly, as it is the crux of the mission to which we are 
dedicated. 
Best regards, 
General Fathi Ahmed Houssein 
- 
 
Copy to:  Military Office at the Presidency 
 
End text. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Ambassador appreciates reassurances given 
during her recent consultations at DSCA and DOD.  She 
continues to urge that processing and delivery of FMF 
materiel to Djibouti be expedited as much as possible.  With 
a new implementing arrangement in the process of negotiation 
by DOD for the U.S. military presence in Djibouti, it will 
behoove us, for purposes of leverage, to be as responsive as 
we can to the requests Djibouti has put forward.  End 
comment. 
RAGSDALE