ETHIOPIA: INFORMATION ON SECURITY DIALOGUES

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002663 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR PM:CHRISTOPHER PETRONE, ALSO AF/E, AF/RSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ASEC MARR ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: INFORMATION ON SECURITY DIALOGUES REF: STATE 112900 ¶1. (U) Per reftel request, this cable provides information on security dialogues between the USG and the Government of Ethiopia (GoE). ¶2. (SBU) Security dialogue between Embassy Addis Ababa and the GoE primarily occurs between the U.S. Defense Attache Office (DAO) and the Ethiopian military. Civilian agencies at post do engage Ethiopian military entities, but such contact is coordinated with or channeled through DAO. DAO maintains regular working-level contact (on at least a weekly basis) with various branches of the Ethiopian military, including military intelligence, to discuss operational issues involving joint programs. The U.S. Defense Attache generally speaks with Ethiopian Chief of Defense Forces General Samora at least once a month. This dialogue is productive and dynamic, allowing for discussion of new ideas and areas of cooperation, which are often developed into joint programs. ¶3. (SBU) While the U.S. maintains active military-to-military engagement with Ethiopia, the U.S. provides significantly less military assistance, and receives less access, than China, Russia, and Israel. The UK and Italy provide levels of assistance similar to the U.S. In the last six months, the U.S.-Ethiopia security relationship has become more difficult as a result of the Ethiopian military's frustration with U.S. human rights vetting requirements, which they view as a hurdle to security cooperation that they do not face from their three main military partners. ¶4. (SBU) Post's Regional Security Office (RSO) routinely discusses Mission security concerns with Ethiopia's Federal Police, engaging the police as needed, but generally not less than once a quarter. Ethiopian police are responsive to RSO concerns. The Embassy's Pol/Econ section routinely engages Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials regarding a range of external security concerns, including Somalia, Sudan, and Eritrea. MEECE