Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DARESSALAAM845
2007-06-12 14:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Cable title:
TANZANIA: VIEWS ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHDR #0845 1631412 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121412Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6295 INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 0159 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 3202 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0280 RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 0329 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0339 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0020 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 1389 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON PRIORITY 0011 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0310 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0052 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0682 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0273 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0219 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0269 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 1067 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0121 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000845
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT AF/E FOR BYODER, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK
ALSO IO/UNP
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION
NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT AMB JYATES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF AU BE ER ET EU GH IT JA NO
PO, UK, TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: VIEWS ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY
IMPASSE
REF: SECSTATE 076306
Classified By: DCM D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
Tanzania will support, but not lead, efforts to resolve
impasse
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000845
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT AF/E FOR BYODER, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK
ALSO IO/UNP
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION
NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT AMB JYATES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF AU BE ER ET EU GH IT JA NO
PO, UK, TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: VIEWS ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY
IMPASSE
REF: SECSTATE 076306
Classified By: DCM D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
Tanzania will support, but not lead, efforts to resolve
impasse
--------------
1. (C) On June 11, the Deputy Chief of Mission raised the
Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary impasse with Ambassador Charles
Sanga, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation (reftel). Sanga
described the issue as a regional one to be addressed within
the African Union (AU). He told the DCM that President
Jakaya Kikwete wants to encourage peace between Eritrea and
Ethiopia, and has influence in the AU to do so.
2. (C) Recalling President Kikwete's outspoken opposition to
Bashir as AU Chairman (comment: and perhaps Kikwete's role in
recent SADC mediation efforts with Mugabe),Sanga explained
that "some quarters believe that Tanzania is trying to become
famous" as a peacemaker by meddling in other states' affairs
- a reputation Tanzania is anxious to avoid. As such,
Tanzania is willing to support action within the AU to
resolve the boundary impasse, but is not inclined to play a
highly visible role. The DCM replied that the United States
was reluctant to play a lead role itself at the moment, and
therefore looked to widely-respected African leaders such as
Kikwete to help break the impasse, suggesting Kikwete could
raise the dispute informally with Isaiah or Meles when they
next meet.
Boundary dispute "camouflaging" bigger conflict: Somalia
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Sanga stated that the relationship between Eritrea
and Ethiopia has been complicated by both countries' interest
in Somalia, and that the boundary dispute is now
"camouflaging" this larger conflict between the two. The
boundary dispute must be addressed in the context of Somalia
if progress is to be made, he said, although he questioned
whether Eritrea and Ethiopia were ready to resolve the issue.
The DCM emphasized that it was precisely because Somalia had
raised tensions between the two countries that a first
confidence-building measure of some kind was important.
While the odds were long, first steps of whatever nature to
resolving the boundary dispute might lead to longer term
relaxation of tensions between the two countries, an
objective all countries in the region share.
4. (C) Sanga noted that there is a "problem from within"
Eritrea, referring to the will of President Isaias Afwerki to
end the impasse, and he criticized Eritrea for harboring
Somalis affiliated with the Islamic Courts. However, he
stated that because Ethiopia is the larger player, it should
take the lead in resolving the various issues between the two
countries.
5. (C) Sanga said Tanzania continued to attach importance to
UNMEE, and would support renewal of its mandate.
DELLY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT AF/E FOR BYODER, AF/RSA FOR MBITTRICK
ALSO IO/UNP
ADDIS ABABA FOR AU MISSION
NAIROBI FOR SOMALIA UNIT AMB JYATES
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF AU BE ER ET EU GH IT JA NO
PO, UK, TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: VIEWS ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA BOUNDARY
IMPASSE
REF: SECSTATE 076306
Classified By: DCM D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).
Tanzania will support, but not lead, efforts to resolve
impasse
--------------
1. (C) On June 11, the Deputy Chief of Mission raised the
Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary impasse with Ambassador Charles
Sanga, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation (reftel). Sanga
described the issue as a regional one to be addressed within
the African Union (AU). He told the DCM that President
Jakaya Kikwete wants to encourage peace between Eritrea and
Ethiopia, and has influence in the AU to do so.
2. (C) Recalling President Kikwete's outspoken opposition to
Bashir as AU Chairman (comment: and perhaps Kikwete's role in
recent SADC mediation efforts with Mugabe),Sanga explained
that "some quarters believe that Tanzania is trying to become
famous" as a peacemaker by meddling in other states' affairs
- a reputation Tanzania is anxious to avoid. As such,
Tanzania is willing to support action within the AU to
resolve the boundary impasse, but is not inclined to play a
highly visible role. The DCM replied that the United States
was reluctant to play a lead role itself at the moment, and
therefore looked to widely-respected African leaders such as
Kikwete to help break the impasse, suggesting Kikwete could
raise the dispute informally with Isaiah or Meles when they
next meet.
Boundary dispute "camouflaging" bigger conflict: Somalia
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Sanga stated that the relationship between Eritrea
and Ethiopia has been complicated by both countries' interest
in Somalia, and that the boundary dispute is now
"camouflaging" this larger conflict between the two. The
boundary dispute must be addressed in the context of Somalia
if progress is to be made, he said, although he questioned
whether Eritrea and Ethiopia were ready to resolve the issue.
The DCM emphasized that it was precisely because Somalia had
raised tensions between the two countries that a first
confidence-building measure of some kind was important.
While the odds were long, first steps of whatever nature to
resolving the boundary dispute might lead to longer term
relaxation of tensions between the two countries, an
objective all countries in the region share.
4. (C) Sanga noted that there is a "problem from within"
Eritrea, referring to the will of President Isaias Afwerki to
end the impasse, and he criticized Eritrea for harboring
Somalis affiliated with the Islamic Courts. However, he
stated that because Ethiopia is the larger player, it should
take the lead in resolving the various issues between the two
countries.
5. (C) Sanga said Tanzania continued to attach importance to
UNMEE, and would support renewal of its mandate.
DELLY