Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA3404
2006-12-27 16:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

USAU AMB COURVILLE HEARS ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN

Tags:  PREL PGOV SO ET AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #3404 3611607
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271607Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3879
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7011
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 003404 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ET AU AU
SUBJECT: USAU AMB COURVILLE HEARS ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN
MINISTRY VIEWS ON SOMALIA AND THE AU

REF: STATE 200927

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 003404

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ET AU AU
SUBJECT: USAU AMB COURVILLE HEARS ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN
MINISTRY VIEWS ON SOMALIA AND THE AU

REF: STATE 200927


1. (C) In the course of a December 20 meeting with U.S.
Ambassador to the African Union, Ethiopian
Minister of State Dr. Tekeda Alemu stressed that Ethiopia
looked for dialogue in good faith with the Islamic Courts in
Somalia, but would not be committed to dialogue in the
abstract. Ethiopia's
by nature a status quo power, Dr. Takeda said. Ethiopia
would gain no benefit from a military conflict in either
Somalia or Eritrea, and its commitment to dialogue is second
to none. He admitted that Ethiopia had been concerned by
June/July movement of ICU toward Baidoa, and thus had to take
some action, but now Ethiopia was politically in a laid back
attitude.


2. (C) Dr. Tekeda welcomed Ambassador into a network of good
contacts, but would not speculate on future leadership of the
AU, commenting only that terms of the Commission and the
Annual Chair of the AU Assembly are coming to a close. He
closed with the remark that he has a Doctorate in
International Relations, thus has an affinity with Ambassador
Courville, and that the AU becomes more of a focal point as
Africa has now come into the mainstream of world affairs.

AUTHORIZED BY AMBASSADOR COURVILLE

WILGUS