Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA1235
2007-04-20 14:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
ETHIOPIA: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA ADDRESSES NWC
how-toVZCZCXRO2093 PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDS #1235/01 1101409 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 201409Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5768 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CJTF HOA RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001235
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM ET ER SO CH
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA ADDRESSES NWC
DELEGATION
REFz 8-
TERRORISM A TRUE REGIONAL THREAT
--------------
5. (SBU) Tekeda criticized the assertion that Ethiopia was
exaggerating the threat of terrorism in the region. Such
allegations from "experts" had hampered Ethiopia's capacity
to build counter-terrorism relationships within and outside
the region, and thwarted coordination efforts. Underscoring
that Ethiopia was an "honest broker," Tekeda highlighted that
Ethiopia had long faced numerous terrorist threats, including
a 1996 assassination attempt on one of its government
ministers, serious bomb threats, and other narrowly averted
violent attacks.
6. (SBU) Tekeda noted that the April 13 IGAD Ministerial
communique (reftel) acknowledged Ethiopia's leadership role
in the region. (NOTE: The communique, inter alia,
"expresses its appreciation to the Ethiopian government for
all the sacrifices it has made to promote the common position
of IGAD Member States... to protect the region from terrorist
and extremist force." END NOTE.)
7. (SBU) Tekeda repeatedly asserted that only in "recent
months" had the U.S. and Ethiopia aligned their
counter-terrorism efforts, with Washington taking Ethiopian
counterparts seriously.
--------------
ETHIOPIAN AMONG YOUNG AND FRAGILE DEMOCRACIES
--------------
8. (SBU) Lack of sustainable resources and of security on the
continent made it simpler to destabilize African governments,
Tekeda said. Although both the TFG and IGAD have had their
share of challenges, both continued to act as governing and
ADDIS ABAB 00001235 002 OF 002
coordinating bodies, helping to "grow" democracy in the
region. Western partners may not appreciate how difficult
and lengthy a process democratic institution-building is in
the region, Tekeda said. He noted that he had spent much of
the previous week in Nairobi, discussing organizational
issues and fundraising with the organizing committee for
Somalia's national reconciliation conference. In contrast,
in Asmara, a Somali contingent with Eritrean backing was
likely plotting a new government for Somalia, he said,
serving to counter regional peacekeeping efforts.
9. (SBU) Tekeda said Ethiopia was among a growing number of
young and fragile democracies. Western partners should
therefore show more patience with Ethiopia's fledgling brand
of democracy, and be aware of the impact of populist anti-GOE
rhetoric. Some allegations of GOE human rights abuses were
simply false; it was "untrue" that Western partners cared
more about democracy in Ethiopia than Ethiopians themselves
did.
10. (U) Poverty was one of the GOE's largest security
threats, Tekeda said. The GOE was balancing the need to
bridge the gap between the rich and poor, with how it invited
multinational enterprises to help grow its economy. Striking
a careful balance among business growth, trade relationships,
inflation management, and poverty alleviation, were GOE
priorities.
11. (SBU) COMMENT: Tekeda's comments echo those of other GOE
principals, underscoring that counter-terrorism and promoting
regional security are the GOE's external priorities, while
building democracy and alleviating poverty are its domestic
priorities. Tekeda's assertion that the U.S. has only
"recently" aligned its counter-terrorism efforts with
Ethiopia is likely meant to underscore that Ethiopia has long
supported Somalia's TFG, despite U.S. reluctance to do so
earlier. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM ET ER SO CH
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA ADDRESSES NWC
DELEGATION
REFz 8-
TERRORISM A TRUE REGIONAL THREAT
--------------
5. (SBU) Tekeda criticized the assertion that Ethiopia was
exaggerating the threat of terrorism in the region. Such
allegations from "experts" had hampered Ethiopia's capacity
to build counter-terrorism relationships within and outside
the region, and thwarted coordination efforts. Underscoring
that Ethiopia was an "honest broker," Tekeda highlighted that
Ethiopia had long faced numerous terrorist threats, including
a 1996 assassination attempt on one of its government
ministers, serious bomb threats, and other narrowly averted
violent attacks.
6. (SBU) Tekeda noted that the April 13 IGAD Ministerial
communique (reftel) acknowledged Ethiopia's leadership role
in the region. (NOTE: The communique, inter alia,
"expresses its appreciation to the Ethiopian government for
all the sacrifices it has made to promote the common position
of IGAD Member States... to protect the region from terrorist
and extremist force." END NOTE.)
7. (SBU) Tekeda repeatedly asserted that only in "recent
months" had the U.S. and Ethiopia aligned their
counter-terrorism efforts, with Washington taking Ethiopian
counterparts seriously.
--------------
ETHIOPIAN AMONG YOUNG AND FRAGILE DEMOCRACIES
--------------
8. (SBU) Lack of sustainable resources and of security on the
continent made it simpler to destabilize African governments,
Tekeda said. Although both the TFG and IGAD have had their
share of challenges, both continued to act as governing and
ADDIS ABAB 00001235 002 OF 002
coordinating bodies, helping to "grow" democracy in the
region. Western partners may not appreciate how difficult
and lengthy a process democratic institution-building is in
the region, Tekeda said. He noted that he had spent much of
the previous week in Nairobi, discussing organizational
issues and fundraising with the organizing committee for
Somalia's national reconciliation conference. In contrast,
in Asmara, a Somali contingent with Eritrean backing was
likely plotting a new government for Somalia, he said,
serving to counter regional peacekeeping efforts.
9. (SBU) Tekeda said Ethiopia was among a growing number of
young and fragile democracies. Western partners should
therefore show more patience with Ethiopia's fledgling brand
of democracy, and be aware of the impact of populist anti-GOE
rhetoric. Some allegations of GOE human rights abuses were
simply false; it was "untrue" that Western partners cared
more about democracy in Ethiopia than Ethiopians themselves
did.
10. (U) Poverty was one of the GOE's largest security
threats, Tekeda said. The GOE was balancing the need to
bridge the gap between the rich and poor, with how it invited
multinational enterprises to help grow its economy. Striking
a careful balance among business growth, trade relationships,
inflation management, and poverty alleviation, were GOE
priorities.
11. (SBU) COMMENT: Tekeda's comments echo those of other GOE
principals, underscoring that counter-terrorism and promoting
regional security are the GOE's external priorities, while
building democracy and alleviating poverty are its domestic
priorities. Tekeda's assertion that the U.S. has only
"recently" aligned its counter-terrorism efforts with
Ethiopia is likely meant to underscore that Ethiopia has long
supported Somalia's TFG, despite U.S. reluctance to do so
earlier. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO