President Isaias Excoriates US and "Terrorism

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000534 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV PINR ER SUBJECT: President Isaias Excoriates US and "Terrorism Fantasy" in Martyrs' Day Speech CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In his annual Martyrs' Day speech, President Isaias continued sounding the GSE's public anti-American position. His attacks on the US initiative to resolve the border dispute with Ethiopia have become increasingly public and strident since an early April cabinet meeting. Both indirect and direct criticisms of the US role in the world and on the border were key components in his Independence Day speech in May. Isaias's Martyrs' Day speech reached new heights - or more accurately, new lows - however, with him accusing the US of being the agent of Ethiopia and "interfering" in Eritrea and Somalia under the guise of a "terrorism fantasy". He also charged that "the US scheme[border demarcation]... has been flying deceptive balloons", "attempting to trap Eritrea", "mixing up the role of the UN with topics that have no association by any standards, solely aimed at fabricating excuses and diluting the main agenda" and that all of this "has been the aim of a 'sophisticated plan.'" ¶2. (C) As noted, the tenor of Isaias' speeches and GSE statements and editorials over the past few months have moved from thinly veiled references targetting the US to direct attacks. Moreover, the scope of his criticisms has expanded as well. Initially focused on the US efforts to ensure border demarcation, now the attacks include criticisms of "dangerous schemes pursued by the US Administration in the region." Particularly disturbing are the expanded references to and criticisms of the US regional role and the fight against terror. In his Independence Day address Isaias railed against those nations who sought to "dominate" and "plunder" under the guise of fighting terrorism. Now the "US continues to greatly interfere and cripple the resistance and struggle of the people of Eritrea and interfere in Somalia under its [the US'] 'terrorism fantasy.'" According to Isaias this leaves Eritrea to add it all up "and come up with...a clear picture of the inappropriate and dangerous schemes pursued by the US Administration in the region." ¶3. (C) The Embassy response to both the Independence Day and Martyrs' Day speech openly demonstrated our displeasure with these statements. Following Isaias' delivery of May's Independence Day speech, the Ambassador, DCM and DATT departed the event prior to the beginning of the more festive portions of the program. In anticipation of a similar speech at Martyrs' Day, the Ambassador and the DCM did not attend. Rather, the Management Officer participated in the sober procession to the cemetery, thus honoring the martyrs, however he did not remain for the speeches. Both the departure from the Independence Day events and the absence of the Ambassador and the DCM from the Martyrs' Day speeches was noted by the GSE. ¶4. (U) Full text of the Martyrs' Day Speech, the Independence Speech, the June 17th editorial and the report from the April cabinet meeting have been sent via email to AF/E and are available on www.shabait.com. ¶5. (C) Comment: That Isaias continues to intensify his rhetorical attacks is troubling, enough but equally disturbing is that his views are, in our opinion, not posturing but deeply held, albeit totally misguided, convictions about the USG, our attitudes towards Eritrea, and our role in the world. It is not just these remarks, however. Our concerns about where Isaias is leading Eritrea have to be looked at as well against the backdrop of the past twelve months where we have seen repeated anti- US statements by high level government officials, the expulsion of USAID, the misappropriation of food aid, the violation of agreements with the UN, the forced closures of NGOs, the ongoing violation of the Vienna convention, restriction on movement of all foreigners in the country, and expanding violations of human rights. And this list, unfortunately, is illustrative only, not comprehensive. ¶6. (C) Comment continued: Most striking, however, is Isaias' statement about the USG's "terrorism" fantasy. Historically, Isaias has voiced a shared conviction with us about the threat posed to the region and the world (and Eritrea) by fundamentalist Islamic groups who use terror as their primary tool. Recently, however, we have heard the Defense Minister suggest that Eritrea viewed with approval the success of the Islamic Courts in Somalia and hoped that the IC might extend its authority more broadly to bring "stability" there. We are equally struck by the recent reestablishment of an Iranian diplomatic presence here despite the GSE's claims through the MFA of having deep-seated concerns about Iran's role and intention in the region. We have seen no evidence that clearly suggests that the GSE may believe its interests will be better served by a new foreign policy direction, we believe, however, that we need to pay more attention than ever to the possibility that the GSE could come to be an increasingly difficult and unhelpful actor, not just on the border but in the region more broadly. End Comment. DeLisi