ETHIOPIA REQUESTS POLICE PROTECTION FOR EMBASSY IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001983 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2017 TAGS: PREL ASEC OFDP ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA REQUESTS POLICE PROTECTION FOR EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. REF: GONZALES-YAMAMOTO JUNE 22 E-MAIL Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD YAMAMOTO. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On June 25, Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, met Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu concerning the "illegal" entry on June 18 of 40 protestors into the Ethiopian Embassy compound in Washington, D.C. Minister Tekeda expressed the GOE,s deep anguish at the lack of police protection to prevent the entry of the protestors. Dr. Tekeda thought this was the first time that an Ethiopian Embassy had been breached by protestors. He added that the Washington, D.C., police and Diplomatic Security had been exceptional, citing the protection offered during the 1994 visit to Washington of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, in the face of protests against the new Ethiopian government. ¶2. (C) Minister Tekeda expressed his hope that the U.S. would appropriately deal with the protestors who illegally entered the Embassy. The Ambassador explained that the Ethiopian Embassy had left its gate open, enabling the protestors to enter the Ethiopian Embassy. The Ambassador also assured Dr. Tekeda that Diplomatic Security could assist the Ethiopian Embassy with a security survey of its property to enhance perimeter security, as well as to facilitate the Ethiopian Embassy procuring an access control system. Dr. Tekeda said the MFA would look into the points offered by the Ambassador. ¶3. (C) In a separate conversation with Ethiopian Ambassador Samuel Assefa in Washington, Ambassador Assefa noted that he would send a note verbale to the State Department requesting enhanced police protection of the Embassy, and noting the GOE's version of the events surrounding the breach of Ethiopia's Mission on June 20. YAMAMOTO