US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1074

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, EAID, DJ 
SUBJECT: CODEL PAYNE MEETING WITH DJIBOUTIAN MINISTER OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Erinn C. Reed for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) Summary: Congressman Donald Payne and HIRC Ted Dagne 
met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Abdi Farah, 9 
August 2004 during a visit to the Horn of Africa region. 
PolOff and Charge Robert Gribbin accompanied Payne to 
meetings with the Minister, President Guelleh (septel), and 
French Ambassador Philip Selz (septel).  Payne discussed the 
situation in Darfur, development and the Global War on Terror 
with the Minister. End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Payne met first with Director of Bilateral Relations 
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Hassan. 
Hassan told Congressman Payne that Djibouti has seen 
strengthened relations with the USG in the recent years.  He 
commended civil affairs actions in the remote regions of 
Djibouti saying it is important to connect with the American 
military and have interaction in daily life.  Hassan said it 
was good to see expanded political, economic and social 
relations, as well as the return of USAID's development 
programs.  Hassan said that much of this was due to the work 
of the Djiboutian Embassy in Washington and the American 
Embassy in Djibouti.  Payne agreed that Djibouti's Ambassador 
Olhaye had been very effective in lobbying for legislation 
that was reflective of the needs of African nations and that 
he was well respected and active in his capacity as 
representative to the United Nations. 
 
3. (SBU) Hassan discussed briefly the impact the recent shift 
in attention to smaller countries in Africa has had on 
relations with the United States.  He commented that the 
level of activity and number of seminars specific to African 
problems has increased and has shown a greater interest in 
African nations.  Hassan noted that the translation of 
documents into French allowed a greater number of Francophone 
Africans to more clearly understand the issues and objectives 
of American foreign policy.  Hassan also commented that the 
American military presence in Djibouti has increased the 
level of interest Djiboutians have in working and interacting 
with Americans and learning English. 
 
4. (U) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Abdi Farah, spoke in 
Somali and French using Hassan as translator for the 
Congressman.  Farah emphasized the appreciation the GODJ has 
for American actions to support and advance relations with 
Africa, especially its friendship with Djibouti.  He 
commented that relations with the U.S. are excellent and GODJ 
is grateful for the significant assistance in health, human 
resources and education.  Farah also commended the USAID 
assistance targeted at making Djibouti a center for cattle 
distribution in the region, which he said would reinforce 
Djibouti's economy and advance its role in the region. 
 
5. (C) Farah stated that the GODJ was grateful for the 
efforts made and will of the USG to fight against terrorism. 
He stated that it was a blind terrorism and it is necessary 
to fight against it.  GODJ feels that it does not show the 
right face of Islam, is a danger to humanity and considers 
the terrorist criminals that must be fiercely fought.  He 
also expressed Djibouti's determination to continue its 
support for the Global War on Terror. 
 
6. (C) When queried by Payne on suggestions to alleviate the 
problems in Darfur, Farah replied that as a member country of 
IGAD Djibouti was one of four countries to intervene in the 
Southern conflict and work towards an signed peace agreement. 
 He said now that the crisis in Darfur has happened, the 
countries of IGAD have taken it as a serious problem.  He 
stated that the American government, the international 
community and now the Arab League are trying to move forward 
and pressure the Sudanese government to stop the genocide in 
Darfur.  Farah stated that at an Arab League Foreign 
Ministers meeting, the League requested that the Government 
of Sudan put a stop to the situation in Darfur.  He was very 
clear that this is a new action for the Arab League to take 
and said it was a positive step in the right direction. 
Farah also stated that the African Union has made a decision, 
which must be implemented, to send African intervention 
forces.  He said it was important to maintain pressure on the 
Sudanese government.  Payne agreed that it is a positive sign 
for the Arab League to make a statement on the issue. 
RAGSDALE