Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIJING2899
2008-07-27 23:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
CHINA AGREES ON NEED TO TERMINATE UNMEE; WANTS
VZCZCXRO7249 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHTRO RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #2899 2092315 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 272315Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8804 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0320 RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA IMMEDIATE 0026 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 1851 RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI IMMEDIATE 3757 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 1934 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3377 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 9045 RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU IMMEDIATE 0076 RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE 0199 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 4372 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE 0437 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 1008 RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE IMMEDIATE 0105 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0018 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB IMMEDIATE 0092
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
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
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