CHINA AGREES ON NEED TO TERMINATE UNMEE; WANTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 002899 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/PSC TANAZ KHAMBATTA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: CH ER ET KPKO PBTS PREL UNSC SUBJECT: CHINA AGREES ON NEED TO TERMINATE UNMEE; WANTS CONTINUED UN ENGAGEMENT REF: SECSTATE 79539 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) China agrees on the need to terminate the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in its current form, MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Affairs Division Officer Cheng Lie told PolOff on July 25 in response to reftel points. However, Cheng said China hopes that the UN can still "play a role" in some other form "on the ground" in Ethiopia and Eritrea, though he did not specify what role the UN should play. ¶2. (C) Cheng acknowledged that, given the lack of cooperation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, it is impossible for UNMEE to fulfill its mandate. He expressed concern that a sudden termination of UNMEE could exacerbate tensions in the region and argued for a "soft landing" for UNMEE and a "smooth transition" to some other form of UN engagement with Ethiopia and Eritrea. ¶3. (U) Minimize considered. RANDT