AMIR MESHAL: EMBASSY ADDIS FORWARDS DIPLOMATIC

S E C R E T ADDIS ABABA 001208 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR AF, AF/E, CA/OCS:JMARKEY, EB/TRA/OTP AND S/CT LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017 TAGS: CASC EAIR KHLS KWAC PTER ET SUBJECT: AMIR MESHAL: EMBASSY ADDIS FORWARDS DIPLOMATIC NOTE ON MESHAL REF: A. SECSTATE 48936 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. MULTIPLE E-MAILS L/AF/CA-EMBASSY Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S/NF) While Department notified Embassy not to issue any diplomatic note requesting Meshal,s release until further notice, post has, on its own authority, forwarded a diplomatic note informing the government of Ethiopia that there are plans to transport Meshal to the U.S. on Friday, April 20. We sent the diplomatic note to ensure that the Government of Ethiopia would release Meshal tomorrow if travel plans are indeed finalized. To wait any longer would have guaranteed non release of Meshal on Friday, April 20. ¶2. (S/NF) Text of note follows: Complimentary opening ..."and has the honor to inform the Government of Ethiopia that the United States Government is in the process of attempting to arrange for Amir Meshal's departure from Ethiopia and back to the U.S. on Friday, April 20, 2007. These plans are still under discussion and have not been finalized. Once our plans have been finalized we will inform the Government of Ethiopia as quickly as possible. We wish to refer you to our diplomatic note number 337-07 dated April 2, 2007, requesting Amir Meshal's release for return to the U.S. We look forward to our mutual cooperation in resolving this case." Complimentary closing. End note text. ¶3. (S/NF) We look forward to confirmation passed to us by e-mail yesterday and today by L, AF and CA that plans are being finalized for the transportation of Meshal to the U.S. tomorrow. We also request the Department contact Meshal,s father who called us today seeking information about his son,s status and whether he would return to the U.S. and when. YAMAMOTO