UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003206

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PREL PTER SO SU DJ ER ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM MELES MEETS WITH FMR SECSTATE
ALBRIGHT ON DARFUR, SOMALIA, ERITREA



1. (SBU) Summary. While visiting Addis Ababa to promote the
UNDP's Commission for the Legal Empowerment of the Poor,
former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi December 1 to discuss Ethiopia's
support of the Commission and her concern about the
deteriorating situations in Darfur and Somalia. Meles said
that Bashir would continue his defiance of the international
community because he feared the U.S. ultimately wanted regime
change in Sudan. Meles recommended that the U.S. re-engage
in Darfur as a partner in the dialogue between the GOS and
rebels. With regard to Somalia, Meles said that dialogue was
"improbable" and that limited military action to "divorce"
the jihadists from the CIC was more likely. Eritrea, Meles
contended, was not interested in resolving its border
conflict with Ethiopia and has started a proxy war through
Somalia. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
accompanied by the Albright Group's Manager of Communications
Jamie Smith, met with Prime Minister Meles December 1 during
a two-day visit to Ethiopia. Ambassador Yamamoto and poloff
(notetaker) also accompanied the Secretary. Meles was joined
by MFA Acting Director for Europe and the Americas Almaz Amha
and the Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister Gebretensai
Gebremichael.

DARFUR
--------------


3. (SBU) Secretary Albright spoke briefly about her role as
co-chair of the Commission for the Legal Empowerment of the
Poor and gained the Prime Minister's support for the
Commission's work in Ethiopia. Albright moved quickly on to
other matters of substance, including Darfur. Albright said
that the American public was "at a loss" for what's going on
in Darfur and pointedly asked Meles what he thought about
Sudanese President Bashir. Meles cited two reasons for
Bashir's continued defiance of the United Nations takeover of
the AU mission: first, Bashir believes that any sanctions
imposed by the international community would hurt Southern
Sudan groups; and second, Bashir is convinced that the

U.S.
only wants "regime change" in Sudan. Meles said that Bashir
plans to preempt a UN force by bringing the rebel groups
together with the assistance of Eritrea and Libya. Eritrea,
Meles contended, has influence over eastern Sudanese rebel
groups and would be willing to help Sudan with the proper
"compensation," including oil and normalized relations with
Sudan. Meles said that a byproduct of the Sudan/Eritrea
cooperation would be a possible rift in Sudan/Ethiopia
relations.


4. (SBU) Meles suggested that the U.S. back away from any
regime change ideas in Sudan, economic sanctions or military
action and focus on playing a constructive role in
negotiations between the rebels and GOS. The PM added that
the U.S. would need to help implement any agreements that
result from dialogue. Meles noted that Egypt plays a
substantial role in the region and the U.S. might think about
engaging the country further on the issue. Meles said that
the U.S. must understand that Darfur is a "waiting game" and
there are not any quick solutions.

SOMALIA
--------------


5. (SBU) Albright reminded the Prime Minister that she was a
private citizen (and not a USG representative) and lamented
that Somalia was once again at the forefront of American
foreign policy. Albright asked what Meles thought of the
current situation in Somalia and about Ethiopia's intentions.
Meles said that there was a window of opportunity a year ago
when the TFG was established. At that time, Meles added, the
Islamists were contained to small areas in the country and
the TFG wanted to establish law and order. Meles quipped
that the U.S. was "not of the same mind" and preferred to
seek out terrorists rather than focus on strengthening the
TFG. Now, Meles said, jihadists have a seemingly unstoppable
momentum and have nearly completed their takeover of the
country.


6. (SBU) Meles indicated that there are only three areas of
Somalia not under CIC control: Baidoa, Somaliland, and
Puntland. Ethiopia's possible intervention is the only
reason the entire country has not collapsed into CIC hands,
said Meles. Meles told Albright that the U.S. understands
someone must stop the CIC and does not oppose Ethiopian

ADDIS ABAB 00003206 002 OF 002


action to protect its national security, but worries that
Ethiopia will get "stuck." The EU, Meles added, is "more
ambivalent" than the U.S. Meles acknowledged that dialogue
was the best solution to the problem, but said it was
"improbable" that the CIC would engage in dialogue. Meles
said that the CIC needed to be divided from the jihadists and
that limited military action might precipitate this
"divorce."

Eritrea
--------------


7. (SBU) Albright asked whether Ethiopia was getting bogged
down having to deal with the "Talibanization" of Somalia and
the ongoing conflict with Eritrea. Meles added that, at the
moment, there was no threat of military conflict with Eritrea
in the north. Ethiopia, he said, was prepared to move
forward with demarcation of the border via a broader dialogue
with Eritrea, but noted that Eritrea was not interested in
dialogue. Meles said Eritrea's solution to the border
conflict was to use Somalia to conduct a proxy war. Meles
told Albright that Eritrea was receiving money from Qatar,
United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to fund jihadist
activities in Somalia. He noted that Yemen, however, was a
friend to Ethiopia and playing a constructive role.

NDI
---


8. (SBU) Albright briefly mentioned how she was disappointed
about the National Democratic Institute's (NDI) expulsion
from the country last year and asked how the organization
might again operate in Ethiopia. Meles said it was a
"unfortunate decision" to expel NDI and there were
"misunderstandings" on both sides. Meles indicated he was
prepared to work on the GOE's relationship with NDI.
YAMAMOTO