US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI1494

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001494 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, OPRC, SCUL, KPAO, DJ 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DJIBOUTI REACHES OUT FOR RAMADAN 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: Embassy Djibouti sponsored an information 
speech, several Iftaars (fast breakings) and a public 
service announcement during the Islamic Holy Month of 
Ramadan. Embassy staff also attended several Ifaars as part 
of its continued outreach to the country's Muslim community. 
END SUMMARY 
 
2. (U) The Ambassador, Political Officer and U.S. Liaison 
Officer hosted Iftaars for women leaders, business leaders, 
political contacts and defense establishment contacts, 
respectively, during the Islamic Holy Month of Ramdan for 
2004. Each was well attended and well appreciated. They 
served as an excellent opportunity to bring contacts 
together from every section, as well as to introduce 
influential community members to many of the new staff at 
Embassy Djibouti. The inter-agency Women's Iftaar hosted by 
the Ambassador and spearheaded by the Pol/Econ Officer, was 
particularly well received and well attended by members of 
the government, parliament, private business, health and 
education sectors. Iftaar attendees often expressed their 
gratitude for the consideration the Embassy demonstrated by 
organizing events for Ramadan, and some were especially 
grateful that they were held in the private residences of 
Americans, as opposed to a reception area in town. 
 
3. (U) Djiboutians also reciprocated by hosting Iftaars to 
which member of the U.S. Embassy and Camp Lemonier were 
invited, among other guests. The Ambassador and CJTF-HOA 
Commander General Samuel Helland attended a particularly 
sumptuous Iftaar given by the Commander of Djiboutian 
Military Forces, General Fathi Ahmed Houssein. Other mission 
staff also benefited from invitation that extended from very 
simple to more elaborate affairs. 
 
3. (U) The Public Diplomacy Office placed a notice in the 
local newspapers in both French and Arabic wishing all 
Muslims a safe and productive Ramadan. Public Diplomacy also 
organized a "Ramadan Information Speech" for members of the 
Embassy and American military Community. The speech, 
attended by about 30 Americans, took place at the Embassy 
and was offered by a member of a moderate Islamic social 
service organization. The Embassy's effort to learn more 
about the most important month in this majority Muslim 
nation was well received by the mission staff, as well as by 
the social service organization, and the event had both 
educational and positive word-of-mouth public diplomacy 
benefits 
RAGSDALE