US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI1026

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 001026 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND NEA 
LONDON/PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IZ, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI AND DEMARCHE REQUEST ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION 
 
REF: STATE 188987 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador conveyed reftel demarche October 13 to 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Yousuf.  She noted 
terms of the compromise by political leaders, as announced 
October 12, their endorsement by key Sunni elements, and the 
U.S. desire to build on the momentum generated by the 
compromise and endorsement in order to increase chances of 
success of the October 15 referendum.  She asked the Foreign 
Minister that Djibouti consider any of several options to 
assist U.S. efforts, including (1) a public statement 
welcoming the compromise, congratulating parties involved, 
and urging Iraqis to vote in the referendum; (2) seeking 
support of the political process from Djibouti's Iraqi 
contacts; (3) making public statements on steps Djibouti 
would take on the diplomatic, political and economic front 
with Iraq; and (4) ceasing contacts, if any, with elements 
urging non-participation in the Iraqi political process. 
 
2. (C) Yousuf responded that Djibouti is following events in 
Iraq and views the compromise as in line with its own 
thinking.  Djibouti is optimistic, he said, that the 
amendment would help all parties.  He expressed hope the 
Sunnis would accept.  Yousuf advised the Ambassador that he 
would accept her first option -- a public statement -- and 
immediately gave instructions to the Director of Bilateral 
Affairs, Mohamed Ali Hassan, to draft a statement of 
Djibouti's support, to be released either that day (the 13th) 
or the 15th.   The second and fourth options were not 
possible, Yousuf continued, as Djibouti has no contacts with 
either Iraqis supporting the political process or in 
opposition to it.  With respect to the third option, he said 
Djibouti would be on board with whatever steps the Arab 
League decided to take.  He admitted that the Arab League has 
stood somewhat back from the process in Iraq to date, but 
opined that this new compromise will likely lead to greater 
Arab League engagement. 
 
3. (C) Yousuf also made the point that it will be important 
in Iraq, as the country moves along the road to democracy, to 
see stability and peace brought about.  In many ways, he 
stated, stability, peace, and also security, must come before 
democracy and the political process.  It is troubling, he 
continued, that so many Iraqi civilians are being killed in 
insurgency violence now underway in Iraq.  With so much 
danger confronting ordinary civilians, getting widespread 
civilian participation in the process of government will be a 
far more difficult task. 
RAGSDALE