Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA3154
2007-10-25 04:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

ETHIOPIA: PM'S SPECIAL ADVISOR LASHES OUT AT VOA,

Tags:  KPAO PHUM KDEM PGOV ET 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8667
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #3154/01 2980459
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 250459Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8310
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0071
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003154 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E; AF/RSA: KMOODY; H: JHAGAN; DRL:
SJOSEPH; AND R: MJACOBS
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: KPAO PHUM KDEM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM'S SPECIAL ADVISOR LASHES OUT AT VOA,
HIGHLIGHTS IMPACTS OF H.R. 2003

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3087

B. 2005 ADDIS ABABA 2331

ADDIS ABAB 00003154 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MALAC FOR REASON 1.4(D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003154

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E; AF/RSA: KMOODY; H: JHAGAN; DRL:
SJOSEPH; AND R: MJACOBS
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2017
TAGS: KPAO PHUM KDEM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM'S SPECIAL ADVISOR LASHES OUT AT VOA,
HIGHLIGHTS IMPACTS OF H.R. 2003

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 3087

B. 2005 ADDIS ABABA 2331

ADDIS ABAB 00003154 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MALAC FOR REASON 1.4(D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Voice of America's Horn of
Africa Service Chief Fred Cooper, former Information Minister
and current Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Bereket
Simon implied that local accreditation of VOA stringers may
be another casualty (see ref A) among U.S. interests
resulting from the House of Representatives' passage of H.R.
2003, The Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act. Cooper
challenged the GoE for refusing to reach out to the VOA to
discuss disagreements over VOA's reporting and to convey the
GoE's position. Bereket responded coolly, saying that the
GoE had "lost hope" in VOA as a credible news source, arguing
that it is a tool of the Ethiopian opposition, both
domestically and in the U.S., and that it is controlled by
Ethiopia's critics in the U.S. Congress. Any progress that
Mr. Cooper had hoped to achieve with the Ethiopian Government
(GoE) was seemingly futile, as Bereket and the GoE remain
enraged with the recent passage of H.R. 2003. Beyond an
expression of frustration over H.R. 2003, Bereket's
reluctance to work with the VOA or consider accreditation for
additional local VOA reporters provides an insight into the
receptivity of a senior Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front
(TPLF) Central Committee member and influential advisor to
the GoE on press freedom in Ethiopia. Bereket made it clear
that the wide-ranging negative impacts from passage of H.R.
2003 will include VOA's ability to operate in Ethiopia. END
SUMMARY.


2. (U) On October 21, 2007, PAO and PolOff accompanied Fred
Cooper in a meeting with Bereket Simon, Special Advisor to
the Prime Minister with the rank of Minister. Mr. Cooper
came to Ethiopia specifically to meet Bereket to discuss
problems that VOA stringers are experiencing in receiving

press accreditation. Several new stringers, including one
that would contribute to the Somali language program, have
asked for accreditation by the GoE, but have not received any
formal response for several months.

--------------
VOA A POLITICAL TOOL AGAINST ETHIOPIA
--------------


3. (SBU) Mr. Cooper opened the meeting by querying Bereket on
how the long-standing "adversarial relationship" between the
GoE and VOA (ref B) could be overcome and questioning Bereket
as to why he had not contacted him since their last meeting a
year prior to discuss the GoE's view on VOA programming.
Bereket pulled no punches in his response, saying that VOA is
a "structurally flawed" news service and is "controlled by
people who have an ax to grind with Ethiopia." Bereket went
on to say that the proof of this is in the programming that
VOA airs on its Amharic and English language programming,
which he said is a voice of the opposition and that the
Service employs "scare tactics" in its campaign against the
GoE. Mr. Cooper countered that the VOA services are
criticized all over the world by governments and that their
news service has no political angle. He further pointed out
that there are many good news stories in Ethiopia in the
areas of the economy, health improvements, and development
successes ) the problem is that there is no one to tell
them. He questioned Bereket on how the good news stories
could reach the public if only the opposition agreed to speak
with the VOA. Mr. Cooper said that VOA stringers have
reached out to GoE officials on numerous occasions, only to
have their requests ignored. Bereket again responded by
saying that the GoE "knows that the VOA is a political
institution controlled by elements of the USG," and
furthermore that "the VOA is controlled by former elements of
the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Party (EPRP)" ) further
proof of its bias.


4. (SBU) Bereket said that, despite the GoE's view of the
VOA, he does not have any problems with the Amharic language
stringers that are currently working in Ethiopia, and that
generally they did a good job. Rather, his complaint was
with the editing staff and the reporters in the U.S.

ADDIS ABAB 00003154 002.2 OF 002


Capitalizing on this, PAO was able to convince Bereket to
reconsider granting credentials to the new stringers.
Bereket said he would discuss it with the relevant officials
and contact VOA and Post with an answer.

-------------- --------------
STRONG MESSAGE ON BILL'S EFFECT ON BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
-------------- --------------


5. (C) While the purpose of the meeting was to discuss VOA
reporters, Bereket used the opportunity to deliver a strong
message regarding the GoE's position on the October 2 passage
of H.R. 2003 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bereket
drew a parallel by suggesting that certain Representatives
utilize the VOA to promote a negative campaign against
Ethiopia. He noted that the GoE has never publicly
criticized a USG institution and that with the passage of
H.R. 2003, "the damage has been done," saying that it is
irrelevant whether it passes the Senate or gains the
President's approval. "We have to protect our interests,"
Bereket continued, "and if we are provoked into an open
fight, we will defend our interests." While noting that the
GoE,s relationship with the current administration, and
particularly the Ambassador and others at Post, has been
good, the actions of Congress are compromising future
cooperation. "We are doing a job for you ) going into
Somalia is in your national interest," he said. Returning to
his perceived connection of this issue of the VOA, he
complained that the problem goes beyond simply issues with
VOA programming, but that "it is the policy of the U.S. to
treat us in this way and mending fences with the VOA will not
solve the problem."

-------------- --------------
COMMENT: SAME OLD STANCE TOWARD VOA, NEW ANGER TOWARD USG
-------------- --------------


6. (C) There were no surprises in Bereket's reaction to the
VOA and the challenges from Mr. Cooper that the GoE should be
more proactive in using this medium. The VOA is generally
viewed as a sounding board for the opposition, particularly
the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD),and that
perception was solidified before and after the May 2005
parliamentary elections. While Bereket's accusations that
the VOA is staffed by anti-GoE activists may or may not be
true, the ruling Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) is not savvy in using international media to
promote its agenda. As long as the VOA continues to actively
source news from the opposition, especially the newly
released CUD leadership, the antagonistic relationship will
continue and VOA will face problems locally. As the key GoE
opinion leader on major media issues, Bereket's professed
agreement to raise the accreditation issue with "relevant
officials" is disingenuous and more aimed to pressure VOA,
and potentially use H.R. 2003 as an excuse to delay or forego
accreditation of a locally-respected, but critical, news
agency.


7. (C) Bereket seemed much more interested in sending a
pointed message to Emboffs regarding the GoE's response to
passage of H.R. 2003. His fiery rhetoric was the latest in a
recent string of angry messages toward the U.S. Congress.
The difference in Bereket's message at this time was his
blurred distinction between the executive and legislative
branches. He made it clear that the bilateral relationship
suffered a major blow following passage of the bill and that
the administration must work to mend the divide. It was
unclear, however, what event would trigger the GoE to "defend
their national interest," as he made it clear that any
possible further progress on the bill in the Senate was
irrelevant (since "the damage had been done") and that the
bill would "never affect the way we govern our country."
YAMAMOTO