ETHIOPIA: DEPUTY FM SAYS HIGH-LEVEL MIL-TO-MIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001579 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO MOPS CASC SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: DEPUTY FM SAYS HIGH-LEVEL MIL-TO-MIL NEGOTIATIONS WAY FORWARD FOR CONTINUED CJTF-HOA OPERATIONS Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu told the Charge and CJTF-HOA Commander Rear Admiral Richard Hunt June 9 that the USG military civil affairs team activities need to be defined in terms of the broader US-Ethiopia counterterrorism relationship. Tekeda called into question the reality of the US-Ethiopia relationship, saying the world had an impression of a "hand-in-glove" counterterrorism cooperation, but little to show in reality. He noted that the US and Ethiopia should revisit its relationship to determine the level of cooperation. Tekeda reiterated that there was no better counterterrorism partner for the US, but the relationship will need to be nurtured. The Minister recommended that an upcoming June 18-19 visit by General Abizaid to Ethiopia may be the appropriate forum to begin such a dialogue. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Charge accompanied by Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Commander Rear Admiral Hunt met with Minister Tekeda to discuss a request from Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) Chief of General Staff Lt. General Samora Yonus that USG civil affairs teams pull out of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Tekeda indicated that he and Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin were unaware of any movement to discontinue the civil affairs activity though, he said, they have not always been "in the loop" regarding these issues. Tekeda noted that Samora may be uncomfortable with the impression among some that civil affairs projects have helped the insurgent group Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). Tekeda said he was not "too concerned" about this impression but recommended that the US work to better to illuminate ENDF's contribution to the civil affairs projects. ¶3. (C) Tekeda said the issue of continued CJTF-HOA operation in the Ogaden region was just a localized part of the overall US-Ethiopia military relationship. According to the Minister, the relationship, however, needed to be nurtured. He recommended high-level military-to-military discussions on the "context" of the countries overarching counterterrorism cooperation. Tekeda noted some progress and a better understanding of the relationship after Assistant Secretary Jendayi Frazer visited Ethiopia in January 2006. The Charge asked Tekeda if General Abizaid might be the appropriate person to discuss such issues. Tekeda suggested that a meeting between Abizaid and Samora followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi would be good way forward. The MFA, he said, would then assist with the development of the greater national policy. Tekeda commented that a positive resolution on the issue of whether or not to continue CJTF-HOA operations in the Ogaden region would likely be a byproduct of this dialogue. HUDDLESTON