PURPORTED GSE RESPONSE TO STATE SPONSOR OF

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000746

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/ICI/CT, DS/OFM AND
AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2032
TAGS: ASEC PREL PGOV PINR ER
SUBJECT: PURPORTED GSE RESPONSE TO STATE SPONSOR OF
TERRORISM DESIGNATION

REF: ASMARA 718

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


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: RSO met with Source who provided
third-hand information on Eritrean views towards being
designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the USG. Source
said that a contact in the Government of the State of Eritrea
(GSE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) claims the GSE fully
anticipates being added to this List. The MFA contact also
told Source that during the September Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) conference held in Tehran, officials from the Cuban,
Iranian and Venezuelan delegations assured GSE attendees in
private meetings that their governments would provide aid if
Eritrea were added to the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism
List. MFA contact also stated the GSE plans on using dual
national citizens for official travel to the United States in
order to bypass any American prohibitions on visas to
Eritrean citizens. END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) RSO met with Source on 09/11/2007. As reported in
Reftel, Source has a friendly relationship with Tiagese
Kiflezge, a junior desk officer in the MFA's America's
division. Source has provided reliable information to the
RSO in the past.


3. (S/NF) Source stated he met with Kiflezge on 09/10/07.
During the conversation, Kiflezge asked if Source had heard
about the latest public statements from A/S Jendayi Frazer
about U.S. intentions to add Eritrea to the State Sponsors of
Terrorism List. Source stated he had not, and Kiflezge
pulled out a copy of a BBC article citing comments made by
Frazer on 09/08/07 while in Addis Ababa about placing Eritrea
on the List. Kiflezge stated they (the GSE) were certain
that Eritrea would be put on the List based on these
statements and in light of the closure of the Oakland
Consulate.


4. (S/NF) Kiflezge then stated the GSE did not care if
Eritrea was put on the List, nor was the GSE concerned about
related sanctions. Kiflezge explained to Source that Eritrea
has virtually no bilateral trade with the U.S. Therefore,
economic sanctions would not hurt Eritrea. He added that the
GSE could bypass any U.S. visa restrictions on Eritreans by
using dual-national Eritrean-Americans to conduct its
official business in the U.S. Dual-national Eritreans from
other European countries could also bypass visa restrictions.
Kiflezge stated the GSE already uses this strategy; for
example, Minister of Health Saleh Meky, a dual U.S.-Eritrean
citizen, has traveled to the U.S. in the past to conduct GSE
business. (NOTE: Post is fully aware that Meky has been sent
by the GSE on fund-raising trips in the U.S. Meky was also
among the officials representing the GSE at UNGA last year.
END NOTE.)


5. (S/NF) Kiflezge also mentioned to Source that GSE
officials had received assurances of assistance from Iranian,
Venezuelan and Cuban officials at the recent NAM meetings on
Human Rights and Cultural Diversity held in Tehran in early
September 2007. Kiflezge reported these government
representatives told the GSE attendees, "We are on your side.
Don't worry about what is going to happen." Kiflezge did
not reveal what type of aid these countries had pledged.
However, he stated the GSE officials and Iranians has also
talked about expediting the opening of an Iranian Embassy in
Asmara.


6. (S/NF) RSO Comments: Other sources have also indicated to
post personnel that the GSE fully expects to be placed on the
State Sponsors of Terrorism List. We find the GSE's
reportedly blase attitude in keeping with the government's
usual public stance when faced with threats or,
alternatively, incentives for engagement from the
international community. However, post believes the GSE
leadership may not be as unconcerned as they profess, as
evidenced by comments made to Charge in a recent meeting at
the MFA about the "unhelpfulness of A/S Frazer's statements"
and a flurry of anti-U.S. articles/editorials in the
GSE-owned press deriding U.S. regional policies and A/S

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Frazer's remarks, and pointedly denying U.S. and UN charges
of Eritrean support to terrorist groups.


7. (S/NF) The reported discussions between GSE officials and
the Cuban, Venezuelan and Iranian delegations are fully
consistent with GSE actions over the last year to find new
friends outside of the U.S. camp - actions which have
included an increase in government-to-government interactions
with Iran as well as reported overtures by the GSE to the
Venezuelans during the 2006 NAM/UNGA meetings. If the GSE
leadership truly believes a designation as a State Sponsor of
Terrorism is on the horizon, and in particular, that this
action is part of a pattern of growing USG hostility towards
the GSE, we may well see increased efforts by the Eritreans
to cultivate ties with a variety of nations unfriendly to
U.S. interests.

MCINTYRE