US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1084

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001084 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PINS, PROP, DJ 
SUBJECT: BOREL REVISITED: FRANCE GUARANTEES IMMUNITY FOR 
PRESIDENT GUELLEH 
 
REF: DJIBOUTI 00585 
 
1. (U) Summary: Questions on the involvement of President 
Ismael Omar Guelleh in the death of French Judge Bernard 
Borel resurfaced due to Guelleh's upcoming visit to France. 
Lawyers in the case, reopened in France at the request of 
Borel's widow, are said to have expressed a desire to 
question Guelleh while he is in country.  French authorities 
have issued statements saying Guelleh will not be questioned 
based on standard international law regarding diplomatic 
immunity for Heads of States. 
 
2. (U) Issues surrounding the accusations of President Ismael 
Omar Guelleh's involvement in the alleged murder of French 
Judge Bernard Borel in 1995 arose once again due to President 
Guelleh's upcoming trip to France to commemorate the 60th 
anniversary of Allied landings in Provence in World War II. 
An investigation is open in France regarding the Judge's 
death at the request of his widow. 
 
3. (U) Lawyers involved in this investigation are said to 
want Guelleh to be questioned while in France.  The French 
Foreign Ministry has issued statements to French and 
International press agencies asserting the diplomatic 
immunity for President Guelleh during the August 14 - 16th, 
commenting that "it is a fundamental principle of 
international law." 
4. (U) The 11 August issue of La Nation, Djibouti's national 
paper, ran the statement of French Ambassador to Djibouti, 
Philippe Selz, regarding this matter.  Selz's statement 
reinforced the idea of not commenting on investigations that 
are underway and emphasized that documents declassified in 
April 2004 did not indicate, nor imply, the involvement of 
the Djiboutian Head of State.  Selz commented that the 
Djiboutian authorities and Department of Justice have given 
the French investigators complete cooperation in this matter. 
 Selz ended his statement with a rebuttal aimed at comments 
heard on a French radio station that France will be 
embarrassed to have invited President Guelleh saying, "France 
will be honored by the presence of President Guelleh at the 
15th of August ceremonies." 
GRIBBIN