ETHIOPIA: DEPUTY FM TALKS ABOUT DIALOGING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003114

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

A/S FRAZER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER SO SU DJ ER ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: DEPUTY FM TALKS ABOUT DIALOGING WITH
CIC, SOMALILAND INDEPENDENCE, EEBC DECISION

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D).


1. (C) Summary. Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu told
Vicki Huddleston on November 20 (during a farewell call) that
Ethiopia preferred to dialogue with the CIC rather than enter
into armed conflict. Tekeda said that Ethiopia had invited
the CIC to talks in Addis Ababa, and the "ball was now in the
CIC court." Tekeda recognized that a successful dialogue
with the CIC would result in government body that merged both
TFG and CIC representatives. Tekeda advocated for
recognition of Somaliland, pointing out that it would be
critical to get Egypt on board. He said, however, that
meaningful and lasting dialogue would not be possible until
the CIC expelled the jihadists, Eritreans, and other outside
forces. Tekeda asked the USG help to organize the
international community and particularly African countries to
support independence for Somaliland to contain the growing
CIC. With regard to the EEBC's recent announcement that it
planned to move forward with border demarcation based on a
coordinates, Tekeda said he did not understand the EEBC's
decision given Eritrea's violation of 1640 and current
occupation of the TSZ. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Huddleston met with Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda
Alemu and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Europe and
North America Almaz Amha for a farewell call on November 20.
Huddleston told Tekeda that the US will continue to seek a
stronger a partnership with Ethiopia and help the country
with its evolving democracy and internal/regional threats.
Huddleston explained that the US will continue to push
Ethiopia on its human rights record and moving forward on a
resolution to the border conflict with Eritrea.

SOMALIA
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3. (C) The former Charge told Tekeda that Ethiopia was moving
more troops and equipment to the Somali border and asked what
Ethiopia had planned. Tekeda explained that Ethiopian
continues to leave the door open for dialogue and it was
preferable to armed conflict. He said that the CIC has been
invited to talks in Addis Ababa but, thus far, the CIC has
been reluctant to take the offer. Tekeda noted that the GOE
has been in constant dialogue with the CIC through its
representatives in London, but the GOE insists that any
meaningful talks must be held in Addis Ababa. Tekeda said
that once the CIC becomes "serious" about holding substantive
talks, Ethiopia is ready.


4. (C) Huddleston asked Tekeda if the GOE had thought about
advocating for a TFG that better reflected Somalia's
population. Tekeda said that at this point and given the TFG
weakened status, it wasn't worth it to shuffle positions in
the TFG. He noted, however, that a "successful" dialogue
between the TFG and CIC would result in some incorporation of
the CIC into the TFIs. He said that Hawiye representation in
particular would likely be strengthened. Tekeda posited that
the TFG needed to be better at its public diplomacy effort.
He said that the TFG needed to focus on denying the CIC
momentum, rather than reversing the situation. Tekeda
suggested that the TFG target moderates and give them an
alternative to the CIC.

SOMALILAND
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5. (C) Huddleston asked the Deputy Foreign Minister about the
CIC's efforts and successes to subvert Somaliland. Tekeda
said that Somaliland will "hold firm," but it's in need of
capital (money) to continue holding off the CIC's advances
into the region. Tekeda said that recognition of Somaliland
as an independent nation by the international community is
the only way to limit the CIC's growth and ambitions of a
"greater Somalia." Tekeda suggested that the US and UK lobby
African countries, particularly South Africa, Congo
Brazzaville, and Zambia, to support Somaliland independence.
He said that Arab League opposition might be neutralized even
though Libya would be opposed to Somaliland's independence,
if Egypt could be swayed. Tekeda explained how Djibouti
would be against independence because of the Arab League's
influence over the country, but added that Egypt could play a
pivotal role in getting Djibouti to a neither for or against
stance on the issue.

BORDER

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6. (C) Huddleston explained to Tekeda the USG's concern about
the EEBC's decision to demarcate the border based on
coordinates and pushed the Deputy Foreign Minister to
continue dialogue with the Witnesses. Tekeda said that the
GOE did not understand the EEBC's decision and questioned why
the EEBC was "rewarding" Eritrea for violating 1640 and
occupying the TSZ. Huddleston said that Ethiopia's decision
not to attend the November 20 EEBC meeting sent the wrong
signal to the international community. Tekeda lamented that
if the current situation with Eritrea did not exist, the two
countries would be formidable allies and a powerful force
against the "problems" in Somalia. Huddleston told Tekeda
that the current border impasse was one of Ethiopia's
greatest challenges and its resolution key to Ethiopia's
democratic and economic development.
YAMAMOTO