Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS1119
2007-04-02 15:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU TROIKA DISCOURAGED ABOUT SOMALI RECONCILIATION

Tags:  PREL SO BE 
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R 021536Z APR 07 ZDK
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEU/EU INTEREST COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001119 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL SO BE
SUBJECT: EU TROIKA DISCOURAGED ABOUT SOMALI RECONCILIATION
AFTER VISITING HORN


Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Laurence Wohlers for Reason
s 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 001119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: PREL SO BE
SUBJECT: EU TROIKA DISCOURAGED ABOUT SOMALI RECONCILIATION
AFTER VISITING HORN


Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Laurence Wohlers for Reason
s 1.4 b and d.

1.(C) Summary: A working-level EU fact-finding mission
returned from the Horn of Africa over the weekend discouraged
about current fighting in Mogadishu and prospects for Somali
reconciliation. Somali President Yusuf told the mission in a
phone conversation that he will not ask Ethiopian troops to
refrain from engaging Somali government opponents he
described as "terrorists." Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
told the group that his country's troops are doing the right
thing in Somalia and will continue "with backing from the
US." Mission sources expressed concern, however, that the
Ethiopian actions were too heavy handed and simply
encouraging the anti-TFG clans to unite with extremists.
Although the EU supports an immediate cease-fire, it is not
optimistic about current prospects for government
reconciliation in Somalia. Nonetheless, the EU's pledge of 15
million euros has been approved and a contract for
disbursement is expected to signed this week. End summary.

2.(C) Poloff spoke April 2 to two members of the troika
fact-finding mission, Michele Cervone D'Urso, Somalia desk
officer at the European Commission, and Jesper Tvedad,
Somalia desk officer at the Council Secretariat (the other
two mission members were representatives of German and
upcoming Portuguese EU presidencies). Both said the original
purpose of the trip, which was to encourage other countries
in the Horn of Africa to support actively the process of
government reconciliation in Somalia, was overtaken by events
on the ground in Mogadishu, which saw heavy fighting between
Ethiopian forces and Hawiyen clan members during the past
week. Security concerns prevented the group from traveling
to Mogadishu. Although the German presidency representative
spoke by phone to President Yusuf on March 31, he received
little encouragement that Yusuf would act decisively to curb
the violence, Cervone D'Urso said. Yusuf took a hands-o the fighting, saying tbe
were terrorists, a Are you asking me
to `a?" Yusuf put a positive Reconciliation Conference, now
scheduled for May, is beginning to look more and more like
window dressing for external consumption instead of a forum
for real political debate and change. Neither Cervone D'Urso
nor Tvedad saw any sign that Ugandan peacekeepers in
Mogadishu will be joined by peacekeepers from other countries
any time soon since there is a lack of donor funding as well
as a lack of troop-contributing countries.

5.(C) Despite the challenges, the EU is moving forward with
disbursement of its pledged 15 million euros to the African
Union, which will be used in part to pay per diem costs to
the Ugandan troops, but also to fund government
institution-building in Mogadishu. The Political and
Security Committee and the European Development Fund have
approved the 15 million euro contribution and the EU expects
to sign the contract this week, Cervone D'Urso said.
GRAY
.