US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI918

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000918 
 
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 
and Charge d'Affaires his displeasure in not being able to procure im 
visa for one of the members of the security staff chosen to accompany 
Guelleh to UNGA.  Darar threatened to halt all issuance of any diplom 
to Americans, refuse American duty-free imports, delay American diplo 
vehicle registrations, and hold back gasoline coupons until the visa 
Post's coincidental receipt of SAO clearance around the same time per 
issuance, but the issue may reappear in future application instances. 
summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Djiboutian Protocol Office has repeatedly delivered visa 
to Embassy Djibouti with the expectation of issuance in an unreasonab 
time frame.    The last diplomatic delegation to the U.S. in May 2005 
three individuals not being able to accompany the president because t 
subject to SAOs, and did not bring their passports in time to receive 
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 
applications for the UNGA delegation as early as possible.  When the 
applications finally arrived at COB on Tuesday September 6, more than 
were incomplete, lacked photographs or had invalid passports.  We man 
issue 19 out of 20 visas, but one was delayed by the need for an SAO. 
 
4. (U) On Saturday, September 10, a weekend, ConOff received word tha 
Protocl Chief wanted an immediate meeting regarding the case of the i 
requiring an SAO.  (Note:  Although an SAO clearance had been accorde 
overnight, the visa still could not be immediately authorized for tec 
reasons, as Embassy's parser server is not normally rebooted on weeke 
 
5. (SBU) In the meeting, also attended by the Charge, Darar immediate 
up the visa that was still unissued.  ConOff and Charge attempted to 
processing, even for diplomatic visas, sometimes takes time, and ever 
being made to expedite this particular application.  Darar responded 
visa were not issued within the next hour Djibouti would cease issuan 
diplomatic visas for Americans, refuse any American duty-free imports 
American diplomatic vehicle registrations, and hold back coupons for 
of fuel.  Charge said that the threat would need to be passed along t 
and offered Darar the chance to retract the threat.   Instead he repe 
emphasis, and agreed that the threat should be communicated to Washin 
During the course of the meeting, the parser was rebooted, so that na 
and FR could clear in NIV.  After Darar left, ConOff was able to auth 
print the visa in question.  The passport was picked up from the emba 
minutes 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 
conclusion of meeting will probably confirm Darar's belief that verba 
can facilitate matters regarding visas.  We are uncertain if there is 
Darar's threat to withhold diplomatic privileges to the Embassy as a 
policy for the future.  We will monitor and apprise Washington of dev 
accordingly. End Comment 
 
RAGSDALE