ETHIOPIA EXPRESSES CHANGE OF HEART ON POST-UNMEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001856

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND AF/E , IO AND INR/AA
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
USUN NEW YORK FOR MCBRIDE
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/08/2028
TAGS: PREL KPKO MOPS UN ER ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA EXPRESSES CHANGE OF HEART ON POST-UNMEE
UN FOLLOW-ON MISSION

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Ethiopia: No Post-UNMEE UN Mission
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1. (C) Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin called in Ambassador
July 7 to seek United States' views and to inform the United
States Government (USG) in advance that Ethiopia is now
not/not in favor of a follow-on United Nations (UN) military
observer mission upon the conclusion of United Nations
Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) operations in July.
Seyoum stated that he discussed this with the Prime Minister
and wanted the United States to know first of Ethiopia's
position, given the positive role of the United States at the
UN Security Council (UNSC) and the United States' strong
support for the Algiers process. Seyoum said that the
American lawyers for the Ethiopian government (GOE) received
a private letter from Sir Elihu Lauterpacht, chair of the
Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC),stating that the
EEBC remains open to discussions on the border but if there
is no response within 15 days the EEBC will officially
disband and consider the "virtual demarcation" of the border
as final and binding. Seyoum remarked that he believed the
EEBC's shift in position reflected a push by some UNSC
members for continuation of the EEBC, which the GOE considers
now officially disbanded. Likewise, Seyoum speculated, these
members want to use the follow-on UN Mission as a mechanism
to advocate for the implementation of the EEBC "virtual
demarcation" decision. Seyoum made it clear that it is up to
the parties to implement the decision, not the UN. Further,
from Ethiopia's perspective implementation of any decision on
the border is impossible because of Eritrea's violation of
the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and refusal to discuss
with the UN, let alone Ethiopia directly, the border and the
broader problems in bilateral relations, Seyoum said.

UN Can Facilitate, Not Implement EEBC Decisions
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2. (C) Seyoum articulated that the position of Ethiopia is
for the UNSC, as witnesses, to serve as "facilitators" not as
"implementers" or "enforcers" of the EEBC's decisions.
Further, Ethiopia opposes "virtual demarcation" and wants the
EEBC's original direction for "physical demarcation." More
important, Ethiopia is concerned that by accepting a
follow-on UN military observer mission at the conclusion of
the UNMEE mandate that Ethiopia is opening itself to pressure
from the UN to implement "virtual demarcation" without
discussion on consequences and without direct discussions
between Eritrea and Ethiopia. For this reason, Seyoum said
the GOE now finds a follow-on UN military observer mission
unhelpful to the peace process.

Ethiopia: Eritrea Must Step Up
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3. (C) Seyoum said that the GOE will now hold off on
acceptance of such a UN follow-on mission until Eritrea is
prepared to discuss the border and bilateral issues with
Ethiopia and also engage the UN on a commitment to the
Algiers process that includes the Cessation of Hostilities
Agreement. Seyoum added that should the UNSC send an envoy
to Addis Ababa to discuss a follow-on UN mission after UNMEE,
GOE officials will discuss Ethiopia's position and advise the
UN to hold off on a follow-on mission until Eritrea is more
receptive to the Algiers Accord. Seyoum concluded that
Eritrea's actions have, for all intent and purpose, ended the
Algiers process and it is up to Eritrea to restore the
process and for the UNSC to remind Eritrea of its obligations
to the Algiers process.


4. (C) The Ambassador stressed that by not accepting a
follow-on UN mission it exposes Ethiopia to more criticism
and cuts off opportunities to get the international community
focused on the Algiers Process and on Ethiopia's concerns and

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position on the EEBC and implementation process. It would
also deny Ethiopia from getting its message on the border
heard by the UNSC and cede to Eritrea discussions on the
border.

Comment
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5. (C) While we were disappointed by the sudden shift in
Ethiopia,s position on a follow-on UN mission, we recommend
that should the UNSC send a team to Addis Ababa, the team
should address Ethiopia,s need for assurances that the UNSC
is unified on a "facilitative" role, the importance of the
Algiers process for both parties, and the parties,
responsibilities to implement a final and binding border
decision. Prime Minister Meles returns from the G-8 summit
in Hokkaido, Japan at the end of the week and we plan to meet
with him on separate issues, but will raise the border issue
with him to ascertain the final position of the GOE on a
follow-on mission. End comment.
YAMAMOTO