US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI915

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000915 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR CA/VO 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CVIS, CMGT, PINR, PREL, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S PROTOCOL CHIEF THREATENS SUSPENSION U.S. 
DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  On September 10, Djama Elmi Darar, Chief of Presid 
Protocol, accompanied by the head of presidential security, expressed 
Charge d'Affaires his displeasure in not being able to procure immedi 
of the members of the security staff chosen to accompany President Gu 
Darar threatened to halt all issuance of any diplomatic visas to Amer 
American duty-free imports, delay American diplomatic vehicle registr 
back gasoline coupons until the visa was issued. Post's coincidental 
clearance around the same time permitted issuance, but the issue may 
application instances.  End summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Djiboutian Protocol Office has repeatedly delivered visa 
Embassy Djibouti with the expectation of issuance in an unreasonably 
The last diplomatic delegation to the U.S. in May 2005, resulted in t 
being able to accompany the president because they were subject to SA 
bring their passports in time to receive visas when the SAOs cleared. 
 
3. (U) Given the history of last minute applications, Embassy Djibout 
requested, beginning in June, that the government's Protocol Office s 
for the UNGA delegation as early as possible.  When the applications 
COB on Tuesday September 6, more than several were incomplete, lacked 
or had invalid passports.  We managed to issue 19 out of 20 visas, bu 
by the need for an SAO. 
 
4. (U) On Saturday, September 10, a weekend, ConOff received word tha 
Chief wanted an immediate meeting regarding the case of the individua 
SAO.  (Note:  Although an SAO clearance had been accorded overnight, 
could not be immediately authorized for technical reasons, as Embassy 
not normally rebooted on weekends.) 
 
5. (SBU) In the meeting, also attended by the Charge, Darar immediate 
visa that was still unissued.  ConOff and Charge attempted to explain 
even for diplomatic visas, sometimes takes time, and every effort was 
expedite this particular application.  Darar responded that if the vi 
within the next hour Djibouti would cease issuance of diplomatic visa 
refuse any American duty-free imports, delay American diplomatic vehi 
and hold back coupons for purchase of fuel.  Charge said that the thr 
passed along to Washington and offered Darar the chance to retract th 
he repeated it with emphasis, and agreed that the threat should be co 
Washington.  During the course of the meeting, the parser was reboote 
check and FR could clear in NIV.  After Darar left, ConOff was able t 
print the visa in question.  The passport was picked up from the emba 
later. 
 
6. (SBU)  Comment:  While the meeting itself had no impact on the tim 
issuance of the outstanding visa, the fact that it was issued shortly 
meeting will probably confirm Darar's belief that verbal pressure can 
regarding visas.  We are uncertain if there is substance to Darar's t 
diplomatic privileges to the Embassy as a general policy for the futu 
and apprise Washington of developments accordingly. End Comment 
 
RAGSDALE