US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI511

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000511 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR OBO RE/PM/AQD - VICKI HARTUNG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ABLD, AMGT, ASEC, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI NEC SITE - FOLLOW-UP ON POST REQUEST FOR OBO 
ASSISTANCE 
 
REF:  (A) STATE 091268,  (C) DJIBOUTI 499 
 
1. (U) Post wishes to reiterate the importance of having 
the assistance of a real estate professional to guide us 
through the closing process on the Salines South site to a 
successful conclusion. 
 
2. (U) Vicki Hartung's visit to Post would be an asset for 
the following reasons: 
 
-- The Djiboutian Government needs to see an expert 
representative from Washington who can "speak" to the 
specific issues governing this NEC land transaction; 
-- As an International Real Estate Representative she can 
speak about the importance of this deal, from a real estate 
and operational perspective, to the Djiboutian Government 
Representative; 
--Ms. Hartung will meet with the Ministry of Finance and 
Department of Housing, Post counsel Alain Martinet, and 
other key players listed in Ref (A). 
 
3. (U) In essence Ms. Hartung and the other members of the 
team arriving in June need to meet as a unified Washington 
presence with all the major participants in this project. 
The negotiating expertise, overall knowledge, and ability 
to speak for OBO in real time that she will bring to the 
table are key to being able to conclude the purchase 
agreement. 
We do not face an unwillingness of Djibouti to complete the 
necessary preliminary requirements to effectuate purchase, 
only a lack of full understanding of their critical nature. 
 
4. (U) Post requests that REPM/AQD Vicki Hartung travel to 
Djibouti to assist with negotiating the final settlement. 
RAGSDALE