FEEDBACK FROM ERITREA ON THE CLOSURE OF THE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ASMARA 000681

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, AF/E, LONDON, PARIS FOR
AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2032
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC PINR ER
SUBJECT: FEEDBACK FROM ERITREA ON THE CLOSURE OF THE
CONSULATE IN OAKLAND

REF: ASMARA 653

Classified By: RSO SEAN MCCLANAHAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Following notification on August 10 of
the U.S. ordered closure of the Eritrean Consulate in
Oakland, the Government of the State of Eritrea(GSE) remains
officially quiet yet reports of great concern by the GSE
trickle through to Embassy personnel. Members of Asmara's
diplomatic community expressed both interest and support in
the U.S. action. The media reports present the GSE's
predictable and standard anti-American/pro-Ethiopia response
to U.S. actions and statements. The absence of a formal
response thus far is of no surprise as the GSE most likely is
regrouping and developing a strategic and forceful long-term
response to the U.S. action. END SUMMARY.

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UNOFFICIALLY, GSE CAUGHT BY SURPRISE AND PLANNING TO RESPOND
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2. (S/NF) On August 13, RSO met with a source (reftel) who
has regular contact with Tiagese Kiflezge, a low level desk
officer on the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
America's desk. Kiflezge told source on August 11 he was
unable to meet because "something bad had happened" and that
he did not want to discuss it over the phone. On August 12,
Kiflezge met in person with Source and shared that the U.S.
had ordered the closure of the Consulate in Oakland. Kiflezge
explained the GSE's response with a Tigrinya proverb that
essentially describes the action as "being stabbed in the
back." Kiflezge explained that the GSE receives
approximately USD 400 million in remittances annually from
Eritrean-Americans, over 60% of which comes through the
Oakland consulate. Kiflezge stated the MFA held a special
meeting on August 12, during which participants pondered how
the U.S. knew that closing Oakland would be so catastrophic
to the GSE. He went on, stating that it would take time to
establish new networks to collect and funnel money to their
Embassy in DC and that it would be difficult to maintain
remittance collections at the same level. Kiflezge noted
that Eritrean Missions are strategically located in countries
in which the GSE can collect remittances instead of
facilitating the more traditional roles of diplomacy and
citizen services. He stated it would not have been as big of
a problem if a consulate or embassy such as "Sweden" had been
closed, but the Oakland closure was a catastrophic blow to
the GSE. He commented that the GSE's previous actions
precipitated the closure and admitted that it was long
overdue.


3. (S/NF) Kiflezge offered further insight into the GSE's
initial plans. According to him, later this week President
Isaias and his cabinet will meet to discuss a response to the
closure. He articulated concern that the worst case scenario
for Eritrea would be if the U.S. Embassy in Asmara closes,
which could lead to the closure of the Eritrean Embassy in
Washington. An end to relations between the USG and the GSE
and a further reduction of the GSE's ability to raise money
in the U.S. would be extremely problematic for the GSE.
Kiflezge said the GSE wants to keep news of the Oakland
closure quiet and has no immediate intentions to broadcast it
on any Eritrean news media. (Note: The state-owned Eri-TV
issued a statement on August 13, that President Isaias would
speak on U.S./Eritrean relations later in the week. End
note.)


4. (S/NF) With regards to possible retaliation, Kiflezge
shared the GSE had no immediate plans to retaliate against
any Americans at Post, but they might respond by arresting
Locally Engaged Staff (LES). Kiflezge then asked
specifically about the function of the Foreign Service
National Investigator (FSNI) and one of the Embassy drivers.


5. (S/NF) Further details of RSO's conversation with source
are reported septel.

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OFFICIALLY, ERITREAN GOVERNMENT SAYS NEARLY NOTHING
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ASMARA 00000681 002 OF 003




6. (C) In a prearranged meeting to discuss Sudan on August
13, CDA and Conoff met with Yemane Ghebreab, the Director of
Political Affairs for Eritrea's sole political party, the
People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). CDA did not
raise the issue and while Yemane had plenty of opportunities
to initiate a conversation on the closure of the consulate,
he remained completely silent on the topic. (Note: Yemane is
the highest ranking official with whom post has met since the
announcement. End note.)


7. (U) In response to questions by the international media,
Yemane Gebremeskel, Director of the Office of the President,
offered the only official GSE response thus far. In
interviews with the BBC and Reuters reporters, he stated "I
have not seen the explanations they have given for this, but
the U.S. are pursuing an unfriendly policy against Eritrea,
so I am not surprised...Fundamentally, it boils down to U.S.
policy and the support they are giving to Ethiopia while
Ethiopia is violating international law." Despite news of
the event being printed in media around the world, the
Eritrean state-owned media has not reported any news about
the closure of the Oakland consulate. The only other
statement thus far was a report the evening of August 13 on
the state-owned Eri-TV, that later this week President Isaias
Afwerki will give an interview about U.S./Eritrean relations.



8. (C) Following her request made August 13 to meet with the
CDA, Tsehai Habtemariam, the Political Officer of the
Eritrean Embassy in Washington, DC met with CDA and Conoff on
August 14. (Comment: While Tsehai claimed she was
representing solely herself, post believes her request for a
meeting was a purposeful move by the GSE to attempt to gain
further information on the decision. End Comment.) Filling
most of the meeting with pleasantries, Tsehai only raised the
closure of the consulate at the end of the meeting, asking if
what she has heard was true. Upon confirmation and
explanation by the CDA, Tsehai commented she is very
concerned and that "things (our bi-lateral relationship) are
getting out of control" and proceeded to explain that it was
the lack of U.S. support and effort to force Ethiopia to
demarcate the border that led to Eritrea's decisions.

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THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY IN ASMARA CHIMES IN
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9. (C) Following delivery of the diplomatic note, Post
received numerous inquiries from diplomatic colleagues in
Asmara. Germany, Netherlands, UK, South Africa, and Egypt
all requested additional information from Embassy staff in
order to report back to their capitals. All offered support
for the decision and one diplomat expressed great pleasure
upon hearing the news. In separate meetings upon hearing the
news the Egyptian Consular Officer, Mohammed Wagih Abdallah,
and the Netherlands Charge Robert Lanschot pressed CDA
further, asking if the decision was an attempt by the U.S. to
restrict the flow of hard currency Eritrea receives from the
diaspora in the U.S. CDA repeated that the U.S. action was
due to the on-going restrictions placed by the GSE in
violation of the Vienna Convention.

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COMMENT
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10. (S/NF) The lack of formal response thus far from the GSE
is no surprise, as the GSE often plots their actions
carefully and strategically. Post anticipates that at some
point the GSE will respond forcefully, as President Isaias
will need to both "save face" and be seen as standing up to
the U.S. The anti-American rhetoric of the past year,
despite a respite of the past few months, can be expected to
increase in the upcoming months as the GSE wants to be
perceived as being strong and powerful in the eyes of its
citizens and its regional friends, such as Sudan and Qatar.
Yet, President Isaias remains in a tricky situation as he
needs to appear strong, he will also strive to prevent
further U.S. actions that could interfere with the sorely

ASMARA 00000681 003 OF 003


needed hard currency revenue. Any GSE policy change
regarding the pouch, visa issuances to official travelers, or
local travel restrictions will be a last ditch effort by the
GSE to keep the Oakland consulate open in order to maintain
this important source of hard currency. Post remains
concerned that the GSE's response will include the targeting
of locally engaged staff (LES) and is working with the LES
committee and all staff to ensure their heightened awareness.

11.(C) As for Yemane's silence, the GSE has always maintained
that discussions on Sudan could continue despite the
deterioration of bi-lateral relations and post takes Yemane's
willingness to meet as an early indication that this
statement continues to be genuine. Yet, with the
international media reports, the GSE will be unable to put
the genie back in the bottle and post anticipates that while
President Isaias' speech later in the week could offer
further insight, it will most likely be a regurgitation of
the oft heard anti-U.S. sentiment pitched by the GSE. End
Comment.
HOLZER