US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI1094

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 001094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF DAS DON YAMAMOTO 
FOR AF/EX VIRGINIA MILHOUS 
FOR OBO/AM FRANKLIN WHITE 
FOR L/AF 
FOR DS/IP/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, AMGT, DJ 
SUBJECT: DRAFT LETTER FOR KAMAJ ON VACANT BUILDING ACROSS 
FROM COMPOUND 
 
REF: A. DJIBOUTI 1071 
 
     B. E-MAIL 11/1/05 V. MILHOUS 
 
 1. (U) Using information provided Ref (B), Embassy requests 
Department's approval of Ambassador sending following letter 
in response to Ref (A) letter of request for compensation for 
vacant building across from Embassy compound: 
 
Begin text of draft letter: 
- 
 
Mr. M. Houssein Mahmoud 
Director 
KAMAJ, Agence Immobiliere 
Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti 
 
Dear Mr. Mahmoud: 
 
Thank you for your letter of July 8, 2005, addressed to 
Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
State for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, 
regarding the unoccupied privately-owned building directly 
across the street from the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti. 
 
As you know, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 
provides that the receiving state has a "special duty to 
protect the premises of the mission" of a foreign state 
represented in the receiving state.  I think both the 
Government of the United States and the Government of 
Djibouti agree that having an uncontrolled facility in such 
close and open proximity to the U.S. mission, and directly 
overlooking the premises of the U.S. mission, is inconsistent 
with this duty. 
 
The way in which Djibouti chooses to fulfill its protective 
obligations to the U.S. mission is, of course, entirely in 
the hands of the Government of Djibouti.  We deeply 
appreciate the Government's continued support in this regard. 
 
At the present time, the U.S. Embassy has no need for the 
land on which the "Soleillet" building sits.  Therefore, we 
are not in a position to reply favorably to either the offer 
of rental, sale or other forms of compensation you have 
presented on behalf of the building's owners. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
Marguerita D. Ragsdale 
Ambassador 
 
- 
 
End text of draft letter. 
 
 
2. (U) Would appreciate Department's swift reply and comment. 
 
 
 
concerning the property . 
RAGSDALE