Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA260
2009-02-02 14:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
ETHIOPIA MAKES CASE FOR SOMALILAND
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000260
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA MAKES CASE FOR SOMALILAND
"SEMI-RECOGNITION"
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 000260
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA MAKES CASE FOR SOMALILAND
"SEMI-RECOGNITION"
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On the margins of a discussion with Acting AF
Assistant Secretary Phil Carter On January 30, Ethiopia Prime
Minister Meles made the case for "semi-recognition" of
Somaliland as a critical step necessary to enhance the
international community's ability to support Somaliland on
regional security/stability and in its own domestic efforts
toward democratization. Meles argued that the international
community's status quo relationship with Somaliland is
untenable and that Somaliland needs a way around the issue of
legal recognition to allow the international community to
"recognize some authority within Somaliland with which it can
engage."
2. (C) Meles accepted Acting A/S Carter's argument that
Somaliland's internal political dynamics over the past two
years have not helped their case, and agreed that the region
must get back on track and hold credible elections as planned
this spring. Still Meles argued that Somaliland's democratic
process cannot be sustained without some kind of interim
recognition which can allow for the provision of
international assistance to bolster Somaliland's own
democratic process.
3. (C) Meles noted that he has already broached the notion of
an interim- or semi-recognition, along the lines of what the
Palestinian Authority enjoys, with Somaliland President Kahin
Riyale, and that Riyale has become increasingly receptive to
the strategy. Meles argued to Carter that the next steps
must be for others in the international community to help
convince the Somalilanders of such an approach. Then,
Somaliland needs a "good sponsor" within the African
community to advance the cause. Meles suggested that
Djibouti would be the best choice, and acknowledged that
Ethiopia would be the worst (as the move risked only fueling
detractors' arguments that Ethiopia is bent on breaking up
Somalia). Once the strategy had support among African
states, Meles argued that the onus would be on the U.S. and
UK to make the Somaliland semi-recognition case to the
Europeans and others in the international community.
YAMAMOTO
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SO ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA MAKES CASE FOR SOMALILAND
"SEMI-RECOGNITION"
Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On the margins of a discussion with Acting AF
Assistant Secretary Phil Carter On January 30, Ethiopia Prime
Minister Meles made the case for "semi-recognition" of
Somaliland as a critical step necessary to enhance the
international community's ability to support Somaliland on
regional security/stability and in its own domestic efforts
toward democratization. Meles argued that the international
community's status quo relationship with Somaliland is
untenable and that Somaliland needs a way around the issue of
legal recognition to allow the international community to
"recognize some authority within Somaliland with which it can
engage."
2. (C) Meles accepted Acting A/S Carter's argument that
Somaliland's internal political dynamics over the past two
years have not helped their case, and agreed that the region
must get back on track and hold credible elections as planned
this spring. Still Meles argued that Somaliland's democratic
process cannot be sustained without some kind of interim
recognition which can allow for the provision of
international assistance to bolster Somaliland's own
democratic process.
3. (C) Meles noted that he has already broached the notion of
an interim- or semi-recognition, along the lines of what the
Palestinian Authority enjoys, with Somaliland President Kahin
Riyale, and that Riyale has become increasingly receptive to
the strategy. Meles argued to Carter that the next steps
must be for others in the international community to help
convince the Somalilanders of such an approach. Then,
Somaliland needs a "good sponsor" within the African
community to advance the cause. Meles suggested that
Djibouti would be the best choice, and acknowledged that
Ethiopia would be the worst (as the move risked only fueling
detractors' arguments that Ethiopia is bent on breaking up
Somalia). Once the strategy had support among African
states, Meles argued that the onus would be on the U.S. and
UK to make the Somaliland semi-recognition case to the
Europeans and others in the international community.
YAMAMOTO