PFDJ VOICES OPINIONS ON BORDER AND SOMALIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000228 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS NSC FOR HUDSON AND PITTMAN DS/IP/AF DS/IP/ITA DS/IP/SPC/SO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KREC ER ET SO SUBJECT: PFDJ VOICES OPINIONS ON BORDER AND SOMALIA REF: ASMARA 223 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador and Director of East African Affairs James Knight met on April 18 with Yemane Ghebreab, head of Political Affairs for the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ),Eritrea's ruling (and sole) political party. Yemane reiterated the two main points made in Knight's prior day meeting with Acting Foreign Minister Fessehazion Petros: an overall willingness to work with the USG on issues of regional stability and resistance to improved bilateral relations until the border issue is resolved. He also expressed opposition towards U.S. policies in Somalia and downplayed the recent border incident between Eritrea and Djibouti. End Summary. BORDER ISSUE FIRST; BILATERAL IMPROVEMENTS AFTER -------------- --- ¶2. (C) Knight opened the meeting by raising the Embassy's operational problems due to the continuing host government restrictions. Yemane echoed many of the statements made by A/FM Fessehazion (reftel),stressing that improvements in bilateral relations can only be made "by bringing everything to the table," implying a link between lifting restrictions on Embassy Asmara and broader strategic issues, including border demarcation. During a discussion about the recent letter to President Bush from President Isaias Yemane commented that "if border demarcation was agreed upon today, we would be ready to resume normal relations with Ethiopia tomorrow." REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION POSSIBLE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In contrast to his pessimistic view towards quick progress on bilateral issues, Yemane projected eagerness towards working with the United States on issues of regional security. He noted, however, his disagreement with the USG labeling Al-Shabaab a terrorist organization, which he referred to as a "movement" and "children fighting for their homeland." Nonetheless, he did emphasize the GSE's willingness to discuss isolating the individuals in Al-Shabaab who are linked to global extremist networks. ERITREA, THE ARS, AND TENSIONS ON THE DJIBOUTIAN BORDER -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Yemane characterized U.S. policy on Somalia as a "blunder." Yemane warned that Somalia will not achieve peace until Ethiopian troops withdraw completely from Somali territory, noting that the majority of the ARS membership will not accept dialogue with the Somali Prime Minister until there is a full withdrawal. ¶5. (C) When asked about the recent border entanglement between Djiboutian and Eritrean soldiers, Yemane insisted that the situation was of little concern. He added that any misunderstanding that might have arisen would easily be resolved. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Yemane, like the A/FM, stayed on message that the GSE will review its restrictions on the Embassy in the context of the broader bilateral relationship, although both indicated Eritrea's willingness to engage the USG on regional issues. Based on Post's outside conversations with ARS members and other Somali watchers in Asmara, the GSE seems deeply concerned about losing its grip on the ARS. Many Asmara observers believe the recent Eritrean activities on Djibouti's border likely arose from GSE anger at Djibouti's encouragement of ARS leaders to engage in multilateral discussions. This border incident comes at a time when ARS leaders have noticeably shifted towards a more flexible stance regarding future discussion with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government -- a conciliatory point of ASMARA 00000228 002 OF 002 view clearly not shared by the Eritreans, who continue to insist that the ARS will never accept negotiations prior to Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia. End Comment. ¶7. (U) This cable has been coordinated with AF/E Office Director James Knight. MCMULLEN