Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA348
2008-07-10 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

A RARE, CIVIL CT RESPONSE FROM ERITREA

Tags:  PTER PREL ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4384
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAE #0348 1921218
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 101218Z JUL 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9779
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0006
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000348 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL ER
SUBJECT: A RARE, CIVIL CT RESPONSE FROM ERITREA

REF: SECSTATE 65133

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000348

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL ER
SUBJECT: A RARE, CIVIL CT RESPONSE FROM ERITREA

REF: SECSTATE 65133

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (SBU) Like NASA firing blind probes into Deep Space,
Embassy Asmara dutifully transmits counter-terrorism
designations and related demarches to the government of
Eritrea. It has been several years since Post has received
even acknowledgement, let alone a response, from our
non-communicative host government on any counter-terrorism
demarche. Thus, we were surprised when we received the
following written reply July 9 from the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in response to the demarche request contained reftel
regarding the designation of the Philippines-based Rajah
Solaiman Movement. Substantive excerpts follow.

"In fact, since the unanimous adoption of UNSC resolutions,
1267 and 1373 against terrorists and their entities freezing
assets and travel ban and arms embargo, we acknowledged
receiving similar but frequently alerting letters listing a
number of terrorist groups with detailed descriptions from
the U.S. Embassy in Asmara. Accordingly, the Ministry would
like to inform the esteemed Embassy that this and all
previous Diplomatic Notes have been transmitted to the
relevant authorities for action."


2. (C) Even more surprising, this unusual display of
cooperative civility occurred amid a blizzard of
anti-American propaganda emanating from Ali Abdu, Minister of
Information, Isaias' hard-line mouthpiece, and father of two
AmCit children. Post suspects the demarche response was
drafted by relatively cosmopolitan diplomats in the Foreign
Ministry, a number of whom have served in Western capitals
and are at times reasonably helpful.
MCMULLEN