US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1212

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 001212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF DAS DON YAMAMOTO AND AF/E 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR ISA AFRICA DAS THERESA WHELAN 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ALSO FOR DSCA JEANNE FARMER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2014 
TAGS: MARR, MOPS, MCAP, PREL, PINR, FR, DJ 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON NEW COMMANDER OF 
FRENCH FORCES IN DJIBOUTI 
 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D.RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (D). 
 
 1. (U) Ambassador, accompanied by USLO Chief, had her first 
meeting September 16 with General Michel Arrault, the new 
Commander of French Forces in Djibouti.  Arrault replaced 
General Gerard Pons, whose tour of duty ended August 1. 
 
2. (C) Ambassador noted the close cooperation and 
collaboration between the U.S. and France in Djibouti and the 
weekly meetings she had had with General Pons.  She told 
Arrault, that with his permission, she wished to continue 
this weekly contact.  Arrault concurred and noted that he had 
had the privilege to meet as well General Samuel Helland, 
Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa 
(CJTF-HOA).  Arrault said he looked forward to working 
closely with us. Ambassador noted the role of the CJTF-HOA in 
the global war on terrorism, but acknowledged the difference 
in function of France's military presence in Djibouti. 
Arrault responded that France's forces are in Djibouti as 
part of a mutual defense agreement with Djibouti that has 
existed since Djibouti's independence.  Its mission is 
therefore different.  Arrault noted that France had, on 
occasion, had the chance to participate with the CTF-150, but 
that its primary role in Djibouti is defense of Djibouti 
rather than the global war on terrorism. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador asked about France's military assistance to 
Djibouti, noting our own Foreign Military Financing (FMF) 
program here.  Arrault said France does have training and 
exercise programs with Djibouti but that their direct 
assistance amounts to 30 million euros (approximately USD 45 
million) annually, a figure which is provided through a 
complicated computation that includes rent for France's 8 
plus bases in Djibouti, taxes and other duties accruing to 
servicemen, plus cash that would bring any shortfalls on an 
annual basis up to this sum. 
 
4. (C) Ambassador remarked that the U.S. military was in the 
process of negotiating renewal of its Camp Lemonier lease, 
currently assessed at USD 15 million annually.  She noted her 
understanding that France wanted to reserve a portion of land 
near the Camp for use for aircraft parking and staff 
billeting.  She asked if France had reached an agreement with 
Djibouti on this issue.  Arrault responded that France has 
had an agreement in principle with Djibouti since December 
2003 for the land in question, and that "Ambassador Selz 
(France's Ambassador in Djibouti) is pushing to conclude the 
matter."  Arrault went on to note "confusion" about the 
property as the precise area that the property encompasses 
"keeps changing."  (Note: Both Ambassador and USLO Chief have 
seen a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
of Djibouti which discusses an understanding between France 
and Djibouti on the matter of the land, but the evidence 
seems clear that there is no signed agreement between the 
sides.  No such formal agreement was signed during the visit 
in July of France's Defense Minister. In addition, Arrault's 
reference to changing land parameters would not indicate the 
existence of a binding formal agreement. End note.) 
 
5. (C) Ambassador spoke of the advantage that Arrault had as 
a newcomer in sharing a common language -- French -- with his 
military and political interlocutors.  She alluded to the 
clarity of intent that this would afford Arrault in his daily 
interactions with Djiboutians. Arrault responded that the 
sharing of French was not such an advantage in reality.  He 
said he found it difficult to understand some of the Afars 
and Issas with whom he spoke because of the different ways in 
which they used French.  In some instances, it was difficult 
to comprehend what exactly they were trying to communicate. 
In his view, the differences among Djiboutians ethnically 
were not bridged, unfortunately, by this common language of 
French. 
 
6. (U) BIO-DATA ON MICHEL ARRAULT (as provided):  General 
Michel Arrault was born November 10, 1952.  He entered the 
Air Force Academy and obtained his rating as a fighter pilot 
in March, 1976.  From 1976 to 1986, he flew the Mirage II and 
the Mirage F-1 and took command of an air defense fighter 
squadron in 1985.  During the Summer of 1986, he was 
positioned in the Office of the Inspector General of the Air 
Force in Paris, where he held the position of Deputy for 
Inspection, Fighter Operations.  In 1987, he was assigned to 
the 11th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying the Jaguar, and was 
Wing Commander in August, 1989.  After an Air War College 
course, he was assigned to Incirlik Air Force base Turkey, to 
assume the command of French forces attached to Turkey for 
"Provide Comfort" international operation.  He then took on 
the position of Deputy Commander of the Air Force Academy on 
June 1, 1992 and was responsible for all training programs 
for cadets.  In 1995, General Arrault was assigned as Base 
Commander at Luxeuil Air Force Base, operating the Mirage 
2000N in a nuclear deterrence role.  In 1997, he was 
positioned to the French Joint Headquarters, Paris, as 
capability manager in the nuclear forces department.  After a 
course with the "Centre des Hautes Etudes Militaires" in 
Paris, he was appointed as French Forces Commander in Chad. 
During the Summer of 2002, he was transferred to the 
Secretariat General for National Defense, Paris, as Deputy 
 
SIPDIS 
for International and Strategic Affairs.  He was appointed 
French Forces Commander in Djibouti. General Arrault has more 
than 3900 flying hours on several combat aircraft:  Alphajet, 
Mirage II, Mirage F1, Jaguar and Mirage 2000.  His awards and 
decorations include Officer in the Legion of Honor, Commander 
in the "National Order of Merit," the "Medaille de 
l'Aeronautique and the Legion of Merit of the United States 
of America.  General Arrault is married with two children. 
 
7. (C) Comment:  General Arrault has limited English and is, 
therefore, more comfortable in French.  He has a less intense 
style than that of his predecessor General Pons, which may 
make for less intensity on the very issues of access to which 
Pons was so committed during his tenure here. End comment. 
RAGSDALE