ETHIOPIAN MINISTER TEKEDA ALEMU: EEBC TERMINATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000719

SIPDIS

NOFORN

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - CLASSIFIED BY STATEMENT AND REASON

AF AND IO FOR FRONT OFFICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC ET ER
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN MINISTER TEKEDA ALEMU: EEBC TERMINATION
COULD SPARK CONFLICT

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ALEJANDRO WOLFF FOR REASONS:
1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C/NF) SUMMARY: Ethiopian Minister of State Tekeda Alemu
Wolde Mariam told AMB Wolff during an August 30 meeting that
Eritrea must withdraw its forces from the temporary security
zone (TSZ) and allow UNMEE to begin monitoring the area again
before Ethiopia will allow the Ethiopia Eritrea Border
Commission (EEBC) to proceed with demarcation. Tekeda said
Ethiopia is willing to accept the EEBC decision and wanted to
create a sustainable peace, but described the Eritrean
approach as unconstructive and intransigent. Tekeda said he
has low expectations for the September 7 meeting of the EEBC
at The Hague, but promised that Ethiopia would take as
helpful an approach to discussions as possible. AMB Wolff
told Tekeda that Ethiopia should think very carefully before
expelling any more Norwegian diplomats from Addis Ababa. END
SUMMARY.

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Tekeda: EEBC Withdrawal
Could Spark Conflict
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2. (C/NF) Tekeda said Ethiopia is willing to accept the EEBC
decision, despite concerns that it favors Eritrea. Tekeda
said that Ethiopia would not, however, agree to allow
demarcation to proceed until Eritrea withdraws from the TSZ
and allows UNMEE to begin monitoring the area again. Tekeda
added that Ethiopia is willing to resolve the issue on a
bilateral basis saying "We are willing to meet with Eritrea
anywhere, at anytime." Tekeda described the current
situation as extremely precarious in that, since the
Eritreans occupied the TSZ, both nations' forces are now
"eyeball to eyeball along the border." He said the prospect
of a termination of the EEBC mandate with Eritrean forces
still in place in the TSZ was a "ticking time bomb" and urged
the UNSC not to take any action that would legitimize
Eritrea.


3. (C/NF) AMB Wolff responded that the U.S. values its
relationship with Ethiopia and is deeply concerned about the
rising tensions in the region. AMB Wolff urged Ethiopia to
cooperate with the EEBC and respect its commitments in the
Algiers Agreements and refrain from any rhetoric that would
heighten tensions. AMB Wolff added that UN DPA U/SYG Pascoe
could play a helpful role in encouraging the Eritreans to be
more constructive.

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Low Ethiopian Expectations for
September 7 EEBC Meeting
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4. (C/NF) Tekeda said Ethiopia has very low expectations for
the September 7 EEBC meeting at The Hague. Tekeda argued
that Eritrea has taken an even more unconstructive and
hard-line stance on border demarcation since the last meeting
of the EEBC. He described Eritrean President Isaias as
intent on using the demarcation process as a means of
undermining the Ethiopian government and assigning blame for
the May 1998 border war. Tekeda commented that instead of
engaging in dialogue with Ethiopia, Eritrea is "wreaking
havoc in the Ogaden and Somalia." Tekeda commented, "We know
Asmara is sponsoring terrorism," but did not provide any
specific information. AMB Wolff reiterated that the U.S.
understood Ethiopia's concerns but said it is important that
Ethiopia take as constructive an approach as possible during
the EEBC meeting. Tekeda said Ethiopia would "do its part."

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Work with Norway
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5. (C/NF) AMB Wolff told Tekeda that Ethiopia should "think
very carefully" before expelling more Norwegian diplomats
from Addis Ababa. Tekeda responded that Norway had taken a
"hubristic approach" to handling the border dispute and had
become far to close to Asmara. Tekeda noted Norwegian Deputy
FM Raymond Johansen's efforts to organize a September EEBC
meeting in New York, despite Ethiopian objections, as an
example of Norway's misguided handling of the issue. AMB
Wolff responded that the U.S. did not sense an ulterior
motive on the part of the Norwegians. Tekeda said his
government is "not looking for a fight" and would welcome any
productive efforts by third parties to resolve the border
dispute.

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR ALEJANDRO WOLFF FOR REASONS: 1.4(B)
AND (D).

WOLFF