NOVEMBER 30 UNMEE REVIEW GETS ETHIOPIA'S ATTENTION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001983

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PREL ET ER UNSC
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 30 UNMEE REVIEW GETS ETHIOPIA'S ATTENTION


Sensitive But Unclassified; Protect Accordingly.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Ethiopian Deputy PermRep Kebret called on
USUN to express concern about a provision of the resolution
renewing UNMEE's mandate that calls for a Security Council
review by November 30. Kebret argued that Ethiopia was
powerless to prevent Eritrean frustration of UNMEE's mission
and sought assurances that UNMEE would not be downsized or
eliminated. Ambassador Sanders replied that Ethiopia could
best contribute to the successful realization of UNMEE's
mandate by persistently trying to stimulate progress on
outstanding issues, especially border issues. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) In an October 4 meeting with Ambassador Sanders and
poloffs, Deputy Ethiopian PermRep Negash Kebret sought
clarification of a provision of UN Security Council
Resolution 1710 (September 29) calling for the council to
"review the situation before November 30, 2006 in order to
prepare for possible changes by 31 January 2007." Kebret
said Ethiopia is concerned that such changes could include
downsizing UNMEE. He said UNMEE'S two-part mission is "to
ensure the continued cessation of hostilities and the
sanctity of the temporary security zone." Both of these
mission elements, he argued, are being fulfilled, so "there
should be no question of UNMEE's renewal." Any Security
Council expectation that UNMEE should achieve more than this,
he added, was being systematically frustrated by Eritrea's
restriction of the movements of UN peacekeeping forces and by
Eritrea's refusal to participate in meetings of the
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC).


3. (U) Ambassador Sanders told Kebret candidly that the USG
was a strong supporter of the November 30 review, which she
explained is not intended to be punitive but rather to reveal
whether there were reasons besides inertia to continue UNMEE.
She assured Kebret the USG would take up Eritrea's
shortcomings with Eritrea and urged Ethiopia to do whatever
it could to realize progress on outstanding issues,
particularly boundary issues, by the interim review date.
She suggested pointedly that Ethiopia attempt to open a
dialogue with Eritrea to which Negash replied that Eritrea
had declined all recent overtures but admitted that
approaches had been made only through third parties. Negash
acknowledged that Eritrea is convinced that Ethiopian
willingness to discuss boundary issues reflects Ethiopian
desire to re-open the EEBC delimitation decision.


4. (U) Warming to the idea of boundary discussions, Negash
said, "Solving the problem of demarcation involves
consideration of 25-30 villages near the border; each of
these has historical and emotional attachment to one side or
the other." Deputy political counselor agreed and, borrowing
talking points provided by Department for use at the Security
Council, said that dealing with these villages involves
political equities appropriate for negotiation between the
parties outside the technical demarcation process of the
EEBC.


5. (U) Ambassador Sanders reiterated that the parties have
two months to show UNMEE progress failing which the Security
Council will consider its options. She added that those
options could involve UNMEE downsizing. Kebret seemed to
fully appreciate that the USG considers the next step to be
in the hands of the parties.


6. (U) NOTE. A DPKO field operations report issued on
October 6 indicates that Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi had expressed Ethiopia's acceptance of the "final and
binding nature of the EEBC decision" but that he added "there
is always room for adjustment when it comes to
implementation." END NOTE.
BOLTON