Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ADDISABABA2471
2008-09-08 06:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
(C) ETHIOPIA WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE HUMAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002471
SIPDIS
IO/RHS FOR REBECCA JOVIN
DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN ET ZI
SUBJECT: (C) ETHIOPIA WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE HUMAN
RIGHTS RESOLUTION IN UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: STATE 93981
Classified By: DCM Deborah R. Malac for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 002471
SIPDIS
IO/RHS FOR REBECCA JOVIN
DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN ET ZI
SUBJECT: (C) ETHIOPIA WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE HUMAN
RIGHTS RESOLUTION IN UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: STATE 93981
Classified By: DCM Deborah R. Malac for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) PolOffs raised reftel points with Abebaw Feleke,
Acting Director of UN Main Organs, and Tesfaye Yilma,
Director General for Europe and the Americas, in the
Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on September 4. Neither official
disclosed the Ethiopian Government's (GoE) likely response on
the questions of human rights resolutions on Iran, North
Korea, or Burma, on no action votes, or on defamation of
religions votes expected in the UNGA Third Committee.
Tesfaye Yilma did confirm to PolChief that Ethiopia would not
support a Third Committee human rights resolution on Zimbabwe.
2. (C) While Yilma did acknowledge that Ethiopia does not
think President Mugabe is a "good guy," he strongly argued
Ethiopia's position that the on-going effort led by South
African President Mbeki to reach an agreement between ZANU-PF
and MDC remains the only option available and should not be
undercut by a Third Committee resolution. Yilma made no
specific reference to the Africa Group.
3. (C) Interestingly, Yilma noted that he had heard Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi argue that if he were Mugabe he
would let the MDC take power "because the government cannot
get over 100,000 percent inflation under control, and the
opportunity would allow the opposition to prove their
inability to govern, hence securing a ZANU-PF win in the next
elections."
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
IO/RHS FOR REBECCA JOVIN
DRL/MLGA FOR LYNN SICADE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL UN ET ZI
SUBJECT: (C) ETHIOPIA WILL NOT SUPPORT ZIMBABWE HUMAN
RIGHTS RESOLUTION IN UNGA THIRD COMMITTEE
REF: STATE 93981
Classified By: DCM Deborah R. Malac for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) PolOffs raised reftel points with Abebaw Feleke,
Acting Director of UN Main Organs, and Tesfaye Yilma,
Director General for Europe and the Americas, in the
Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on September 4. Neither official
disclosed the Ethiopian Government's (GoE) likely response on
the questions of human rights resolutions on Iran, North
Korea, or Burma, on no action votes, or on defamation of
religions votes expected in the UNGA Third Committee.
Tesfaye Yilma did confirm to PolChief that Ethiopia would not
support a Third Committee human rights resolution on Zimbabwe.
2. (C) While Yilma did acknowledge that Ethiopia does not
think President Mugabe is a "good guy," he strongly argued
Ethiopia's position that the on-going effort led by South
African President Mbeki to reach an agreement between ZANU-PF
and MDC remains the only option available and should not be
undercut by a Third Committee resolution. Yilma made no
specific reference to the Africa Group.
3. (C) Interestingly, Yilma noted that he had heard Ethiopian
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi argue that if he were Mugabe he
would let the MDC take power "because the government cannot
get over 100,000 percent inflation under control, and the
opportunity would allow the opposition to prove their
inability to govern, hence securing a ZANU-PF win in the next
elections."
YAMAMOTO