US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI189

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
State for AF, AF/E, AF/PD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, PGOV, SCUL, DJ 
SUBJECT: PD PROGRAMMING DRAWS ON PARTNERS, POSTERS 
 
REF:DJIBOUTI 180 
 
1.   (U) SUMMARY: This week, the Public Diplomacy section co- 
sponsored a successful three-day-long craft fair featuring 
local artisans and recipients of grants from the 
Ambassador's Self-Help Fund. In addition, Black History 
Month programming continued with a movie night and 
discussion panel for college students and the next 
installment of the Embassy's poster show, which was featured 
both at the craft fair and on local television. 
 
2.   (U) The craft fair hosted about 10 artisan groups from 
all over the country, many of which have received grants 
from the Ambassador's Self-Help Fund. Open to the public, it 
was co-sponsored by the Embassy's Public Diplomacy and Self- 
Help Sections, the Ministry of Tourism and the artisan 
association. A key component of the event was a round table 
discussion among the artisans, moderated by a local NGO, 
about how best to improve quality and marketing of local 
crafts. PD orchestrated television and newspaper coverage, 
which focused on the Embassy's MPP messages of self-help, 
cooperation and economic prosperity. 
 
3.   The fair also served as the next venue for Public 
Diplomacy's Black History Month poster show (reftel), which 
received positive feedback from both the Djiboutian 
Government and the diplomatic corps. Each artisan group was 
given a smaller version of the poster show to take back to 
their districts for display in their shops. In addition, 
Radio Television Djibouti filmed the show and ran snapshots 
of it before each of their three news broadcasts over two 
days. 
 
4.   On February 23, Public Diplomacy hosted a movie night 
and panel at the Sheraton Hotel for local college-aged 
students. The feature, "Remember the Titans" was shown in 
French and was followed by a French language question-and- 
answer session about race relations and civil rights in the 
United States. Questions were fielded by a teacher from the 
International Foundation for Education and Self-Help and the 
Embassy's General Services Officer. The discussion centered 
around the African-American experience, tolerance and the 
need for open dialogue in society. About 100 people 
attended. 
 
RAGSDALE