Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ADDISABABA408
2007-02-08 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND
how-toVZCZCXRO2113 PP RUEHDE RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDS #0408/01 0391616 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081616Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4531 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNSOM/SOMALIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000408
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO ET SO
SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND
U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS
REF: ADDIS ABABA 311
Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000408
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO ET SO
SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND
U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS
REF: ADDIS ABABA 311
Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda
informed Ambassador on February 5 that he would personally
meet with Ayr sub-clan leaders from Somalia being hosted by
the GOE in Addis Ababa. Tekeda reiterated previous remarks
by Prime Minister Meles (reftel) that providing compensation
to Somalis whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr
remained key to political reconciliation in Somalia.
Minister Tekeda expressed gratitude for strong
U.S.-Ethiopian relations, but appealed for further
institutionalization of the partnership. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) On February 5, Ambassador hosted a luncheon for State
(i.e., deputy) Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu. MFA
Acting Director General for Europe and America Almaz Amha, as
well as MFA Europe and American General Directorate
Counsellor Ayalew Mamo and Third Secretary Adam Tesfaye,
accompanied Minister Tekeda.
-------------- --------------
ADDIS ABABA HOSTING MEETING OF AYR SUB-CLAN LEADERS
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Tekeda informed Ambassador that the GOE was now
sponsoring a meeting of Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan
leaders in Addis Ababa, recognizing that political
accommodation of the Ayr (the principal backers of the
Council of Islamic Courts, or CIC) was key to ensuring
Somalia's stability. While many had focused on the rights of
the Ayr, the Ayr also had responsibilities, he said.
Deciding whether to provide restitution or compensation to
Somali land-owners whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr
remained an important challenge for Somalia's Transitional
Federal government (TFG); Tekeda could not confirm whether
the TFG had formed a land restitution commission (as had been
claimed by EC Development Commissioner Louis Michel).
4. (C) While recognizing the TFG's weak governing capacity,
Tekeda dismissed concerns about "noise making" individuals
such as former CIC Executive Committee Chairman Sheik Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed, who Tekeda said should be allowed to seek
refuge in Yemen, as he would remain under surveillance.
Instead, USG efforts should concentrate on Somali clan and
business leaders.
5. (C) Tekeda and other GOE ministers continue efforts to
lobby potential troop contributing countries to support the
AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Tekeda said he was "well
received" during a recent visit to South Africa, but that
South Africa's commitment (in terms of financing and military
support) fell short of expectations.
--------------
STRENGTHENING U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS
--------------
6. (C) Ethiopia recognized that closer engagement with the
United States was in Ethiopia's national interest, Tekeda
said. He hailed strong bilateral ties, noting that Emperor
Haile Selassie had visited President Roosevelt during the
1940s, and that the U.S. was free of any colonial legacy in
Africa. To further strengthen ties, however, Tekeda appealed
for establishing an institutional framework involving
military, intelligence, and security service officials.
Rather than simply acknowledge Ethiopia as a "fragile state,"
the USG should recognize Ethiopia's strategic role in
promoting peace and stability in the region, Tekeda said.
7. (C) Tekeda complained about the subjectivity of Millennium
Challenge Account (MCA) country rankings for Ethiopia, noting
that Ethiopia often scored the same as Eritrea, despite the
latter's greater intransigence toward the international
community. Ambassador responded that resolution of the
ongoing prosecution of political detainees would help improve
Ethiopia's standing.
8. (C) COMMENT: State Minister Tekeda and the GOE see the
ADDIS ABAB 00000408 002 OF 002
Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan as critical to stabilization
in Mogadishu, and are actively pursuing TFG-Ayr
reconciliation. We will follow-up on his proposal for
regular joint U.S.-Ethiopia working-level meetings to enhance
our strong bilateral ties. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO ET SO
SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES SOMALIA AND
U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS
REF: ADDIS ABABA 311
Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tekeda
informed Ambassador on February 5 that he would personally
meet with Ayr sub-clan leaders from Somalia being hosted by
the GOE in Addis Ababa. Tekeda reiterated previous remarks
by Prime Minister Meles (reftel) that providing compensation
to Somalis whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr
remained key to political reconciliation in Somalia.
Minister Tekeda expressed gratitude for strong
U.S.-Ethiopian relations, but appealed for further
institutionalization of the partnership. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) On February 5, Ambassador hosted a luncheon for State
(i.e., deputy) Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu. MFA
Acting Director General for Europe and America Almaz Amha, as
well as MFA Europe and American General Directorate
Counsellor Ayalew Mamo and Third Secretary Adam Tesfaye,
accompanied Minister Tekeda.
-------------- --------------
ADDIS ABABA HOSTING MEETING OF AYR SUB-CLAN LEADERS
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Tekeda informed Ambassador that the GOE was now
sponsoring a meeting of Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan
leaders in Addis Ababa, recognizing that political
accommodation of the Ayr (the principal backers of the
Council of Islamic Courts, or CIC) was key to ensuring
Somalia's stability. While many had focused on the rights of
the Ayr, the Ayr also had responsibilities, he said.
Deciding whether to provide restitution or compensation to
Somali land-owners whose land had been confiscated by the Ayr
remained an important challenge for Somalia's Transitional
Federal government (TFG); Tekeda could not confirm whether
the TFG had formed a land restitution commission (as had been
claimed by EC Development Commissioner Louis Michel).
4. (C) While recognizing the TFG's weak governing capacity,
Tekeda dismissed concerns about "noise making" individuals
such as former CIC Executive Committee Chairman Sheik Sharif
Sheikh Ahmed, who Tekeda said should be allowed to seek
refuge in Yemen, as he would remain under surveillance.
Instead, USG efforts should concentrate on Somali clan and
business leaders.
5. (C) Tekeda and other GOE ministers continue efforts to
lobby potential troop contributing countries to support the
AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Tekeda said he was "well
received" during a recent visit to South Africa, but that
South Africa's commitment (in terms of financing and military
support) fell short of expectations.
--------------
STRENGTHENING U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS
--------------
6. (C) Ethiopia recognized that closer engagement with the
United States was in Ethiopia's national interest, Tekeda
said. He hailed strong bilateral ties, noting that Emperor
Haile Selassie had visited President Roosevelt during the
1940s, and that the U.S. was free of any colonial legacy in
Africa. To further strengthen ties, however, Tekeda appealed
for establishing an institutional framework involving
military, intelligence, and security service officials.
Rather than simply acknowledge Ethiopia as a "fragile state,"
the USG should recognize Ethiopia's strategic role in
promoting peace and stability in the region, Tekeda said.
7. (C) Tekeda complained about the subjectivity of Millennium
Challenge Account (MCA) country rankings for Ethiopia, noting
that Ethiopia often scored the same as Eritrea, despite the
latter's greater intransigence toward the international
community. Ambassador responded that resolution of the
ongoing prosecution of political detainees would help improve
Ethiopia's standing.
8. (C) COMMENT: State Minister Tekeda and the GOE see the
ADDIS ABAB 00000408 002 OF 002
Hawiye/Habr-Gedir/Ayr sub-clan as critical to stabilization
in Mogadishu, and are actively pursuing TFG-Ayr
reconciliation. We will follow-up on his proposal for
regular joint U.S.-Ethiopia working-level meetings to enhance
our strong bilateral ties. END COMMENT.
YAMAMOTO