US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1374

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001374 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, DJ 
SUBJECT: GUELLEH INTERVIEW WITH BBC SOMALI 
 
 
1.  (U)  Summary:  The October 7th issue of Le  Progres,  the 
journal   of  the  ruling  party  RPP  (People's  Rally   for 
Progress),  carried  an  overview of  President  Ismail  Omar 
Guelleh's interview with BBC Somali while in New York  during 
Guelleh's recent trip to the U.S and Cuba.  In the interview, 
Guelleh reportedly focused on his goals for the New York  and 
Washington visits.  He also touched on relations between  the 
United States and Djibouti, the peace process in Somalia  and 
the American military base in Djibouti. End Summary. 
2.  (U)  According to Le Progres, the journal of  the  ruling 
RPP, President Guelleh spoke recently on BBC Somali about the 
main  goal  of  his visit to New York, which  was  the  peace 
process in Somalia. For him, the major issue was to set aside 
the   obstacles   that  have  ruined  the   preceding   peace 
conferences. Discussions with Secretary General of the United 
Nations, Kofi Annan, were mainly about Somalia. "I asked  him 
to  receive  the  IGAD ministers to see developments  of  the 
peace  process  and  inform  the  Security  Council,  Guelleh 
reportedly  stated. Kofi Annan had responded that  "It's  the 
first  time the six IGAD countries adopted a common  position 
on  Somalia." In the event, that the upcoming election  of  a 
transitional Somalian president disappoints warlords who  are 
seeking  a presidential seat, Guelleh stated "We agreed  that 
the  Security  Council should execute its threat  and  brings 
those people to international justice 
3.  Regarding the purpose of his visit to Washington, Guelleh 
said  the  visit focused on meeting Senate and  congressional 
officials that are responsible for international, African and 
military issues. "We're exchanging points of view on  how  to 
reinforce  peace  in Somalia."  Guelleh added  that  he  also 
"wanted   to  meet  the  legislators  that  control  American 
policy."  Responding  to  a question  on  the  United  States 
choosing Djibouti as site for a major American military  base 
and  what  the  United  States  thinks  of  Somalia,  Guelleh 
responded "They told me that they were outside of the  inter- 
Somali peace process discussions so far because they had  bad 
memories  in operation Restore Hope. But now they  intend  to 
support  the  new Somali government because it will  have  no 
ties   with   international  terrorism,  Guelleh   reportedly 
stated." 
 
RAGSDALE