ETHIOPIA: MFA HIGHLIGHTS COUNTER-TERRORISM AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001222

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DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, AND INR/B
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ET ER SO
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: MFA HIGHLIGHTS COUNTER-TERRORISM AND
DEVELOPMENT AS BILATERAL INTERESTS

Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. In an April 18 courtesy call, newly
appointed Ethiopian MFA Counselor for Europe and America
Tebege Berhe said conditions in Somalia had improved over the
previous month, but that military operations remained
"incomplete," having been curtailed due to concern about
civilian casualties. Tebege complained that Eritrea was
becoming "increasingly blatant" in its efforts throughout the
region to destabilize Ethiopia, citing alleged involvement in
terrorist activities, including abductions and attempted
bombings in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, Ethiopia was still
determined to avoid all-out war with its northern neighbor.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Pol-econ counselor and deputy (note-taker) met on
April 18 with newly appointed MFA Counselor for Europe and
America Tebege Berhe, who was accompanied by MFA Third
Secretary Adam Tesfaye (GOE desk officer for the United

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States). Poloffs reviewed Ethio-American bilateral
relations.

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BILATERAL COOPERATION ON COUNTER-TERRORISM AND DEVELOPMENT
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3. (C) Tebege underscored that the GOE deeply valued its
strategic relationship with the United States, particularly
in counter-terrorism cooperation, and as a development
partner. Prior to 9/11, Ethiopia had faced the challenge of
terrorism "alone". Ethiopia had been actively engaged in
counter-terrorism since the early 1990s, he said, when it
faced threats from al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) and Egypt's
Muslim Brotherhood. Now, both countries shared a deep
commitment to counter-terrorism, he added, highlighting USG
cooperation and diplomatic assistance on Somalia over the
last 8-10 months.


4. (U) Despite Ethiopian culture's millenia of history,
modern Ethiopia had only 15 years experience as a "developing
democracy," and therefore valued U.S. partnership in helping
Ethiopia advance, Tebege said. While sometimes Congressional
bills relating to Ethiopia were "not accurate, not balanced,"
USG development assistance was critical to continuing
Ethiopia's progress. To counter previous periods of neglect,
the GOE had identified 4 regional states (Afar, Somali,
Benishangul, and Gambella) that particularly needed
assistance from the federal government to build local
capacity, and to improve delivery of health and other social
services. In contrast, Tebege said, Ethiopia's other regions
(e.g., Amhara, Tigray, Oromiya),were "better equipped" for
local governance. Pol-econ counselor reviewed USG
development initiatives, and noted that USAID's Pastoralist
Livelihoods Initiative sought to target the Somali region.

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SOMALIA'S SECURITY IMPROVED BUT "INCOMPLETE"
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5. (C) On Somalia, Tebege said security conditions had
improved since the flare-up of violence in March, but that
Ethiopian efforts to improve security remained "incomplete."
Some Council of Islamic Courts (CIC) elements, including Adan
Hashi Ayro, remained in Mogadishu. Intervention had been
necessary to check growing violence, he said, citing recent
attacks on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)
aircraft, and from insurgents near the Villa Somalia
presidential compound. Ethiopia had succeeded in breaking
"the backbone" of the insurgency, but had ceased military
operations due to concerns about civilian casualties, he
added. Ethiopia sought to withdraw from Somalia, but could
not leave a vacuum, he said. Tebege reported some progress
on the political front, as some Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr
sub-clan members were now willing to separate themselves from
extremists and to cooperate with Somalia's Transitional
Federal Government (TFG).

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ERITREA SEEKING TO DESTABILIZE REGION
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6. (C) Tebege complained that Eritrea was becoming
"increasingly blatant" in its efforts throughout the region
to destabilize Ethiopia. In addition to supporting the CIC
rather than Somalia's legitimate TFG, Eritrea was involved in
"terrorist activities," including an attempt to bomb heads of
state attending the January 2007 African Union summit in
Addis Ababa, Tebege said. He said the Government of Eritrea
(GSE) had orchestrated the February 2007 kidnapping of UK
diplomats and of Ethiopians traveling with them in Ethiopia's
Afar region, releasing the UK diplomats only when public
pressure had become too strong. Tebege added that Eritrea's
motivation had been simply to create the impression of
instability and insecurity in Ethiopia. Ethiopia did not
seek conflict with Eritrea, as "we benefit more from peace
than they do," but Eritrea's terrorist activities needed to
be neutralized, Tebege concluded.


7. (U) BIO-DATA: A fluent English speaker, Tebege Berhe is a
graduate of the University of Colorado, and most recently
served at Ethiopia's embassy in Ottawa. He replaces Ayalew
Mamo as the second-highest ranking official in the MFA's
Europe and America General Directorate. Ayalew Mamo, who
previously served as consul in Ethiopia's embassy in
Washington, D.C., and had served in Ethiopia's diplomatic
service for nearly two decades, no longer is employed by the
foreign ministry.
YAMAMOTO