Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA1051
2006-12-19 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREA AND IRAN DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC TIES
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 001051
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR IR ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA AND IRAN DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC TIES
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 001051
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR IR ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA AND IRAN DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC TIES
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE)
recently announced that it had sent an envoy to Iran to
establish formal diplomatic relations and economic ties with
Iran. In a December 15 Reuters report, Andeab Meskel, head
of the Afro-Asia-Pacific desk at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs denied that any anti-western agenda was behind the
move. Poloff spoke with Abraham Yohannes of the MFA Americas
Division on December 18. Yohannes told Poloff that "the
current situation facing Eritrea" had pushed Eritrea toward
Iran and that this move was to be expected. Yohannes refused
to offer more specifics; however, he did say that the GSE had
not decided yet whether Eritrea would establish a separate
embassy in Tehran or extend another ambassador's credentials
to include Iran.
2. (C) Comment: Earlier this year the MFA was still voicing
concern about Iran and its radical Islamist views and
officials of the GSE maintained that they shared
international concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Eritrea's foreign policy agenda has continued to shift in
recent months, however, and few observers here are surprised
now to see Eritrea reaching out to Iran - especially given
Eritrea's efforts within the past year to establish
relationships with countries often critical of the U.S. In
seeking to heal relationships with Libya and Sudan, as well
as supporting the Council of Islamic Courts in Somalia and
reaching out to Venezuela at the UNGA meeting in October,
Eritrea continues its strategy of moving away from the
western countries. End Comment.
DELISI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR IR ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA AND IRAN DISCUSS DIPLOMATIC TIES
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE)
recently announced that it had sent an envoy to Iran to
establish formal diplomatic relations and economic ties with
Iran. In a December 15 Reuters report, Andeab Meskel, head
of the Afro-Asia-Pacific desk at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs denied that any anti-western agenda was behind the
move. Poloff spoke with Abraham Yohannes of the MFA Americas
Division on December 18. Yohannes told Poloff that "the
current situation facing Eritrea" had pushed Eritrea toward
Iran and that this move was to be expected. Yohannes refused
to offer more specifics; however, he did say that the GSE had
not decided yet whether Eritrea would establish a separate
embassy in Tehran or extend another ambassador's credentials
to include Iran.
2. (C) Comment: Earlier this year the MFA was still voicing
concern about Iran and its radical Islamist views and
officials of the GSE maintained that they shared
international concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Eritrea's foreign policy agenda has continued to shift in
recent months, however, and few observers here are surprised
now to see Eritrea reaching out to Iran - especially given
Eritrea's efforts within the past year to establish
relationships with countries often critical of the U.S. In
seeking to heal relationships with Libya and Sudan, as well
as supporting the Council of Islamic Courts in Somalia and
reaching out to Venezuela at the UNGA meeting in October,
Eritrea continues its strategy of moving away from the
western countries. End Comment.
DELISI