VZCZCXRO1015
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN
RUEHROV
DE RUEHTRO #0256 0851633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 261633Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4655
INFO RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0175
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 5182

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000256 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG AND AF/RSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO SO LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA SUGGESTS FUNDING GO TO SHEIKH AHMED'S FORCES, NOT 
AMISOM 
 
REF: STATE 17205 
 
¶1. (SBU) On March 26, Post received a diplomatic note from the 
MFA outlining Libya's position on peacekeeping forces in 
Somalia.  This note responded to an earlier US demarche on the 
subject (see reftel).  In a meeting with the Ambassador today, 
MFA Secretary for the Americas Ahmed Fituri said that Libya's 
position on the issue of support for AMISOM had been cemented 
during a recent phone conversation between Muammar al-Qadhafi 
and Sheikh Sherif Ahmed, during which Sheikh Ahmed had plead for 
donor funding to be directed to him, rather than to AMISOM.  The 
Leader reportedly agreed with this position.  The Ambassador 
will seek further clarity at a scheduled meeting with the head 
of the MFA department handling Somali affairs early next week. 
In the meantime, Post would appreciate any additional relevant 
guidance on the matter that could be used in that meeting or in 
a written response to the dipnote below. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) Text of the diplomatic note: 
 
 
 
The General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and 
International Cooperation (Americas Desk), sends its compliments 
to the US Embassy in the Great Jamahiriya. 
 
 
 
In response to the esteemed Embassy's diplomatic note # 09/290 
dated March 3, 2009 regarding providing AMISOM with $67 million 
in support, and whereas the Great Jamahiriya thinks that the 
election of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is the beginning of political 
stability in Somalia, we thus believe that the said support 
should rather go to the Somali forces (Army and police) which 
consist of more than 70,000 troops, and  we deem it wrong to 
continue supporting AMISOM. Meanwhile we do express our 
gratitude to the USG for the support it wishes to provide at the 
amount of $67 million. 
 
 
 
We think that the support should go to the Somali forces, and 
therefore we welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue among 
the African Union, the US government, and Somalia before 
providing any support or aid whether from our side or from yours. 
 
 
 
The General People's Committee Secretariat for Foreign Liaison 
and International Cooperation (Americas Desk) avails itself of 
this opportunity to renew to the esteemed US Embassy the 
assurances of its highest consideration. 
 
 
 
(Seal of the General People's Secretary for Foreign Liaison and 
International Cooperation) 
 
 
 
To: US Embassy- Tripoli 
 
Tripoli: March 26, 2009 
 
 
 
End text of diplomatic note. 
 
CRETZ