ERITREAN MFA ON UNMEE, COUNTER-TERRORISM, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000089 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2018 TAGS: PREL KPKO PTER ER SUBJECT: ERITREAN MFA ON UNMEE, COUNTER-TERRORISM, AND REGIONAL ISSUES REF: ASMARA 86 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Fessehazion Petros, the second-ranking official in Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the ambassador for ninety minutes February 21 and discussed UNMEE, regional dynamics, counter-terrorism, Kosovo, and bilateral issues. He reiterated a litany of perceived slights to Eritrea's sovereignty at the hands of the United Nations while professing that Eritrea wants to see more cooperation and coordination on UNMEE and border issues with the UN. He stated that Al-Shabaab is not part of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia and that Eritrea has long seen Al-Qaeda as a foe. End Summary. ¶2. (C) UNMEE: Eritrea shoots itself in the foot, again -------------- -------------- The ambassador opened by calling on Eritrea to enable UNMEE to carry out its mission, or if that were not possible, to at least provide full cooperation for UNMEE's orderly and safe relocation. He described Eritrea's behavior over the past three weeks as the equivalent of a soccer "own-goal," as Eritrea's actions had increased the outrage and frustration of the UN and member states. He noted that some of the government of Eritrea's rivals must be giddy over recent developments. Fessehazion, drawing on Eritrea's letter of February 20 to the UNSC president, linked the UNMEE situation with the border issue and called for improved cooperation and coordination leading to a positive resolution. The ambassador said that the revocation of the visas of the UN's Technical Assessment Mission did not indicate a willingness to discuss and coordinate. Fessehazion reeled off a list of historic and current perceived slights to Eritrea at the hands of the UN, specifically mentioning UNMEE's plans to withdraw from Sector West to Badme, numerous letters from Isaias to the Secretary General or UNSC president that have gone unanswered, and Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's comments about Eritrea while visiting Addis Ababa. The ambassador said the deep concern about UNMEE's plight transcended the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict and could have implications for other UN peacekeeping operations. -- Meanwhile, UNMEE Force Commander General Taisir told Post late February 21 that the regrouping movement to Asmara and Assab was "going very well." The two trouble spots (reftel) were the subject of a late-night discussion with Eritrean officials and as of this morning both units were allowed to move. General Taisir said there was another Eritrean-caused delay near the Italian Fort in Sector Center, but he thought this could be sorted out. He said he was "racing between time and fuel" and hoped for some clarity from the Security Council before the end of next week about the status of UNMEE's mission. ¶3. (SBU) Sudan -------------- Regarding the recent visit of Sudan's Salva Kiir to Eritrea, Fessehazion said Eritrea strongly supported the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He said relations between Eritrea and the Government of South Sudan are strong and cooperative. On the issue of the eastern Sudan peace accord, the ambassador noted that the United States is planning to assist in training eastern Sudanese in elementary administrative and conflict resolution skills to help increase the capacity for peace and stability in eastern Sudan. Fessehazion commented that Eritrea and the United States have some common interests in these areas. ¶4. (C) Counter-terrorism -------------- The ambassador said the United States government is moving to name Al-Shabaab a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a legal designation that carries substantial sanctions. Fessehazion interjected that "Al-Shabaab is not part of the Alliance," (i.e., Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia). He said, "We warned the United States about Osama bin Laden when he was in Sudan in the 1990s. He and Al-Qaeda were planning actions against Eritrea with the help of the Sudanese; that ASMARA 00000089 002 OF 002 is why we broke relations with Sudan. We view Al-Qaeda as a foe." He said that if the United States could demonstrate that individuals in the region had links to Al-Qaeda, "we will combat them." The ambassador said that given the UNMEE crisis and current situation in Somalia, the timing did not seem right for such cooperation, but that it was something to keep in mind for the future, perhaps when there was more stability in Somalia. ¶5. (SBU) Kosovo -------------- Eritrea has not yet recognized Kosovo and has no official policy on this issue, Fessehazion stated. He added, "If you want my personal opinion, I am against it, as it could lead to unilateral secessions elsewhere." (COMMENT: He did not mention that Russia vies with China as Eritrea's main weapons supplier. END COMMENT.) ¶6. (SBU) Bilateral Issues -------------- Fessehazion said that during the January gathering of all Eritrean ambassadors, President Isaias told them Eritrea wants "constructive engagement with the United States." He said the visits to Eritrea by Secretary Rumsfeld and Generals Franks and Abizaid are remembered as the basis for potential cooperation. In addition to commenting on Somalia and UNMEE, the ambassador noted the restrictions still in place on the U.S. (and other embassies) in Asmara and suggested another meeting to discuss those important issues. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Fessehazion, who has only recently become the second-ranking MFA official, exhibited a diplomatic quality rare in Eritrean officialdom: being disagreed with and allowing the conversation to continue. He took the ambassador's strong comments about Eritrea's treatment of UNMEE without visible umbrage, although revealed little about his government's near-term plans for UNMEE. The ambassador will meet with the regime's political commissar, Yemane Ghebreab, on February 25 to follow up on UNMEE and other issues broached by Fessehazion. MCMULLEN