UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002438

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: MFA APPRECIATIVE OF PRESIDENT'S SPEECH
ON GWOT DETAINEES

REF: STATE 146996

(SBU) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel points to Amb. Teruneh
Zenna, MFA Director General for International Organizations,
on Sept. 7. Teruneh expressed appreciation for the
President's public explanation of U.S. actions and policy,
and in particular the emphasis on the value of intelligence
gathered from detainees in saving lives. The transparency of
the U.S. explanation was also positive, he said, since the
United States could not "hide its practices like a small
African country." The DG noted that the GOE had never
criticized Guantanamo detentions nor other actions in the war
on terrorism, and added that if the President can convince
the American people of the wisdom of his actions, "the world
will follow."
WILGUS