ETHIOPIA: PM AND FM ON SOMALIA, WASHINGTON VISIT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001365

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF, AF/E, CA/OCS:J.MARKEY, AND S/CT
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2017
TAGS: PREL PTER CASC ET ER SO
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM AND FM ON SOMALIA, WASHINGTON VISIT
FOLLOW-UP, EEBC, AND MESHAL CASE

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 1349


B. NAIROBI 1861 (NOTAL)

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. In separate meetings with Prime Minister
Meles and Foreign Minister Seyoum on May 3, Somalia and
follow-up to the Foreign Minister,s recent trip to
Washington were key discussion topics with the Ambassador.
The Prime Minister was concerned about the porous and open
Kenyan-Somali border as a security problem, allowing
extremist elements to use the area and pose threats to
Ethiopia and undermining Somalia's Transitional Federal
Government (TFG). Foreign Minister Seyoum, in a separate
meeting, said Yusuf is responding to Ethiopia,s urgings by
reaching out to the Hawiye clans. Yusuf will soon provide a
report to Ethiopia on his findings and, hopefully the
Ethiopians will persuade Yusuf to speed up the dates for the
national reconciliation conference. Foreign Minister Seyoum
expressed his deep appreciation for the arrangements made for
his visit to Washington. He praised National Security
Advisor Stephen Hadley,s remarks calling for a joint
committee to address Somalia, regional, and overall bilateral
relations.


2. (S/NF) Ambassador pressed the Foreign Minister to write to
the new UN Secretary General to underscore Ethiopia,s
commitment to the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission
(EEBC),highlighting the Witnesses' concern for normalization
talks to resolve potential problems arising from a final
demarcation of the border. The Foreign Minister also raised
the case of detained Amcit Amir Mohamed Meshal and
Ethiopia,s anticipated decision to publicly announce his
release. This comes after a week of discussions with senior
security officials by the Ambassador and Embassy staff. END
SUMMARY.

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SOMALIA: WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS SMALL
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3. (S/NF) Prime Minister Meles told Ambassador and ORA chief
that recent fighting against extremist strongholds in
Mogadishu had led to improved security and hopefully more
community support against extremists. Meles noted that
community groups disarming roadside bomb traps, in an area
patrolled by Ugandan troops of the AU Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM),was a hopeful sign. Of concern to Meles is the
Kenyan-Somalia border. Extremist groups would be able to
operate in this region, freely crossing the Kenyan border
without much resistance and just out of reach of
Ethiopian-based troops, he said. Meles thought they might
try isolating the region. He added that al-Itihaad
al-Islamiya (AIAI) leader Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki and
other HVT operated in the south and around Kismayo.


4. (S/NF) In a separate meeting, Foreign Minister Seyoum,
State Minister Takeda, and chief of staff Habte told
Ambassador, DCM, and USAID director that pressure on TFG
President Yusuf had proven ineffective. Seyoum had
questioned Yusuf about Yusuf's approach with the Hawiye clan
elders, and encouraged Yusuf,s outreach programs. Seyoum
said that Yusuf has been positive and would report to the GOE
on his efforts with the Hawiye and other subclan elders. The
Foreign Minister called for international support for the
reconciliation conference, and for it be advanced rather than
delayed until June.

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WASHINGTON TRIP: HIGHLY IMPRESSED
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5. (S/NF) Foreign Minister Seyoum reviewed his trip to
Washington and New York, expressing his appreciation for the
warm welcome at the State Department and National Security
Council. He welcomed his meeting with National Security
Advisor Stephen Hadley and Hadley's suggestion to form
senior-level groups for both Ethiopia and the U.S., and for
these two groups to meet to discuss regional problems and

ADDIS ABAB 00001365 002 OF 002


resolve or address bilateral issues.

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EEBC
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6. (S/NF) Seyoum reiterated the GOE,s position that it
accepts the EEBC decision as final and binding without
qualification. Ambassador pressed the Foreign Minister to
send a letter to the UN Secretary General stating this point.
It will ease pressure on Ethiopia, but more importantly
refocus attention on how to peacefully demarcate the border.
The Witnesses to the Algiers Agreement support some type of
normalization talks to ease tensions and ensure a peaceful
and sustainable demarcation process. Seyoum noted that in
the past Ethiopia did not wish to drop out of the EEBC
process, and welcomed U.S. discussions on the future of the
EEBC and the role Ethiopia should take.

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MESHAL CASE
--------------


7. (S/NF) Ambassador reviewed for the Foreign Minister the
problems of getting detained Amcit Amir Mohamed Meshal out of
prison and escorted back to the U.S. Seyoum noted that the
efforts by the Ambassador and staff to meet with the Justice
Minister and Police Commissioner as well as Foreign Ministry
senior officials, though time consuming, will help the U.S.
secure official release of this citizen.



8. (S/NF) COMMENT: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
strongly support U.S. relations and will pursue some type of
joint bilateral commission to review regional issues and
bilateral challenges. On a joint U.S.-Ethiopian approach to
the TFG, Seyoum said he welcomed a meeting with Washington
officials to discuss in detail the type of message and
approach to be taken with the TFG. Removal of TFG Prime
Minister Ghedi, Seyoum said, depends on the reconciliation
conference. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO