GERMANY: Germany calls Djibouti a "factor of peace and stability" in the fight against terror as part of Operation Enduring Freedom

Record ID: 455192

  • Title: GERMANY: Germany calls Djibouti a "factor of peace and stability" in the fight against terror as part of Operation Enduring Freedom
  • Date: 7th March 2008
  • Summary: (AD2) BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 06, 2008) (REUTERS) DJIBOUTI'S PRIME MINISTER DILEITA MOHAMED DILEITA AND GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER FRANZ JOSEF JUNG AT NEWS CONFERENCE JUNG LISTENING TO TRANSLATION DELEGATION MEMBERS LISTENING INTERPRETER TRANSLATING (SOUNDBITE) (French) DILEITA MOHAMED DILEITA, DJIBOUTI'S PRIME MINISTER SAYING: "We hosted the different forces because Djibouti was one of the first countries to support the coalition for the fight against terror, knowing that this is the region where a lot of things are happening. Let me recall the attack against USS Cole in the port of Aden and other tragic events in the region which spoke for Djibouti (as a base). We were very happy with the presence of American coalition forces and those from Germany, Italy and the French forces which were already stationed in Djibouti." CAMERAMAN FILMING DILEITA LISTENING TO TRANSLATION (SOUNDBITE) (German) FRANZ JOSEF JUNG, GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER SAYING: "I hope and wish that Djibouti, which is a factor of stability and peaceful development in eastern Africa, is able to make its contribution towards a stabilisation in the region: you know that we have military observers in Ethiopia as part of the United Nations framework UNMEE (United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea). We also have military observers in Sudan." WIDE OF DILEITA AND JUNG
  • Embargoed: 22nd March 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAAVTFMYYOFSL1MAQDU0B9O70C
  • Story Text: Germany's Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung has called Djibouti a "factor of stability and peaceful development in eastern Africa"
    during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita in Berlin on Thursday (March 6).

    "I hope and wish that Djibouti, which is a factor of stability and peaceful development in eastern Africa, is able to make its contribution towards a stabilisation in the region," Jung said, whose country has trained 44 members of Djibouti's military there.
    Prime Minister Dileita stressed his country's contributions towards Operation Enduring Freedom.

    "Djibouti was one of the first countries to support the coalition for the fight against terror, knowing that this is the region where a lot of things are happening."

    "Let me recall the attack against U.S.S. Cole in the port of Aden," Dileita said.
    Suicide bombers attacked the "Cole" during a refuelling stop in Yemen in October 2000, killing 17 sailors and injuring dozens.
    Dileita's remarks followed the conviction on Wednesday (March 5) of a former U.S. Navy sailor stationed in the Middle East accused of spying and providing material support to terrorists.
    A federal jury in Connecticut convicted Hassan Abujihaad, 32, formerly known as Paul Hall, of providing classified information to a London-based publication called Azzam Publications while knowing that it would be used in a conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens.
    Abujihaad, arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 7, 2007, is due to be sentenced on May 23 and faces a maximum term of 25 years in prison, said Thomas Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in New Haven, Connecticut.
    Prosecutors accused Azzam of engaging in a conspiracy to provide material support and communications links to people involved in terrorism, including the disclosure of a U.S. Navy battle group's movements in 2001.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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