ETHIOPIAN FM ON TFG AND ERITREA DURING WYCOFF VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002905

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN FM ON TFG AND ERITREA DURING WYCOFF VISIT

REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 2817

B. ADDIS ABABA 2877

C. ADDIS ABABA 2878

D. ADDIS ABABA 2880

E. ADDIS ABABA 2903

Classified By: Classified by CDA TMushingi for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seyoum Mesfin highlighted to visiting AF/DAS Wycoff the
severe financial crisis facing the TFG, reiterating comments
made by PM Meles. He also noted that Somalia Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) President Sheik Sharif had said
during a recent visit that he would step down if it would
help to stabilize Somalia, implying that the Sharif was
extremely frustrated at his inability to garner needed
domestic and international support. On Eritrea, Seyoum
stated that President Isais would not change, but that
Ethiopia would not try to dissuade Europe or other nations,
including the United States from trying to engage the
Eritrean leader. Seyoum reported that Ethiopia planned to
attend the Sanaa Forum and to voice concern over Iran's
possible role in supporting Huthi insurgents in Yemen's
northwestern province. Turning to democracy and governance
issues, Seyoum stated that an opposition victory in the 2010
election would be a success for the ruling party because it
had created the institutions to allow such a transfer of
power to take place. Wycoff advocated for an fair elections
process and the creation of an open political environment
that enabled participation in the elections by all parties.
CDA also proposed that a USG-GOE working level group be
formed in Addis to focus on economic reform, investment, and
trade issues. Wycoff and CDA reminded the GoE of the
upcoming high-level military visits and followed up on Leahy
vetting and military supply issues raised with Prime Minister
Meles (Reftel A). End Summary.


2. (SBU) Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin
met with visiting AF/DAS Karl Wycoff and CDA Meece on
November 19 for 90 minutes. Seyoum was joined by his Chief
of Cabinet Mulugeta Zewdie, Americas Desk officer Tebeje
Berhe Shook and Assistant Spokesman Wahide Belay. The USG
was also represented Pol/Econ Deputy Counselor and Poloff.

TFG's Sharif Would Step Down to Stabilize Somalia
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3. (C) In discussing the Somalia Transitional Federal
Government's (TFG) empty coffers, and largely mirroring the
comments Prime Minister Meles had made to DAS and CDA earlier
in the day (Reftel A),FM Seyoum said the TFG had not paid
the salaries of cabinet members or Parliamentarians for five
months, and that many legislators were living outside the
country as a result. He stated that Sheik Sharif had said
during a recent visit to Addis that he would be ready to step
down if it would help to stabilize Somalia. Seyoum added
that when current TFG leaders were in the opposition, at
least the League of Arab States supported them, but now that
they are in the government, there is no financial support
coming in from the Arab States. Wycoff reviewed U.S. efforts
to garner support from partners, including European and Arab
states, especially Gulf countries. On Kenya's "Jubaland
Initiative" and the recent visit by officials from Kenya's
Ministries of Security and Defense, Seyoum echoed points
raised by Prime Minister Meles (Reftel),and reiterated that
Ethiopia and Kenya had agreed to a coordination mechanism for
intelligence sharing and technical assistance. Wycoff
highlighted the U.S., strong opposition to this initiative
and to any cross border operations or interference that could
feed the risk of instability in the Horn.


4. (C) Wycoff noted that the USG had provided unparalleled
assistance to TFG President Sheik Sharif in terms of
diplomatic and direct budget support, training of combatants,
and provision of ammunition, when it was critically needed.
He emphasized that Somalia,s TFG is nested in the Djibouti
Peace Process and that the USG would continue to support that
process and encourage others to do so as well. At the same
time, he said the TFG must show accountability and
transparency in both its receipts and expenditures or else
donors will be unwilling to provide support and the
possibilities for good governance, key to the TFG,s
viability, will be severely reduced. He noted that the U.S.
has provided $500,000 for the Price Waterhouse Coopers
mechanism, but does not yet have the first report back.

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Seyoum: Eritrea's Isaiah will Not Change
--------------


5. (C) Turning to Eritrea, Seyoum responded to DAS Wycoff's
mention of a recent Eritrean "charm offensive" (probably in
response to the increased pressure being felt from the UNSC
sanctions deliberations) for a visiting EC delegation to
Asmara by saying "President Isaias will not change. We know
him well. He is the State, the people, and the country."
Seyoum said that Ethiopia would not discourage the Europeans
or others from trying to engage the Eritrean leader. He
noted that the Obama Administration was one of the first to
attempt to do so. Seyoum reiterated the point made by Meles
(Reftel A) that Eritrean citizens are being held hostage by
Isais in having to pay a tax to the Eritrean government, and
appealed for the sanction regime being considered by the UN
to target the tax. He said that the draft sanction
resolution presented by the Africa group to the U.N. Security
Council is toothless and that such a diluted resolution would
be meaningless to Isais and that "he would laugh." Wycoff
noted the U.S., intentions to achieve the strongest possible
resolution.

Iran's Support for Huthi
Insurgents in Yemen
--------------

6. (C) Seyoum raised Yemen and its issues with Huthi
insurgents in the northwestern area of Yemen, mentioning
Iran's possible role in supporting the insurgents. He said
he would be leading a delegation to the Sanaa Forum and
planned to express solidarity with Yemen, as well as send a
clear message to Iran. Seyoum admitted the message might not
mention Iran specifically, but asked that the USG pay
particular attention to this issue.

Opposition Win Would Be Success for Incumbent
-------------- --

7. (C) DAS Wycoff raised the importance to the USG of human
rights, democratization, and good governance in Ethiopia and
urged that the government help to create conditions that
enabled participation for all political parties in the 2010
parliamentary elections. He noted the importance of working
out mutually acceptable ways to move forward with voter
registration, political campaigns, civic education, and media
access for all parties. Seyoum responded that
democratization is an uphill struggle and that the ruling
party will continue to try to encourage opposition parties to
join the process. He stated that if the opposition were to
win the election, he would consider it a success, because the
ruling party is the one that has "built the process and
created the ballot and the institution to allow such a
transfer of power to take place." He stressed that the
government cannot afford violence.

Proposed Trade and Investment Working Group
--------------

8. (C) CDA, in a follow-up to the Nov. 5 bilateral meetings
in Washington, proposed forming a USG-GOE working group in
Addis to focus on economic reform, trade, and investment
between the two countries. CDA reiterated the USG's desire
that this group remain at a working level in order to promote
idea sharing and brainstorming.


9. (C) CDA related his impending departure, and explained it
was a result of legal restrictions due to his retired status.
Seyoum noted that the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United
States Samuel would also be departing post, and would most
likely be replaced by a second temporary CDA.

Follow-Up on Leahy Vetting and Military Supplies
-------------- --------------

10. (C) DAS Wycoff announced that AFRICOM Commanding General
Ward and DASD Huddleston would visiting, as part of the
follow-up to the November 5 talks. Reiterating the issues
raised in the earlier meeting with PM Meles (Reftel A),
Wycoff explained the nonwaivable Leahy Vetting requirements
that must be met before the U.S. can provide training or
equipment to foreign militaries. He explained that shipments
of military equipment were backlogged in Djibouti because the
names of Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) officers to
whom the equipment would be delivered had not been submitted
to the USG for Leahy vetting. CDA Meece described the second
problem as another backlog in Djibouti, this time involving a

ADDIS ABAB 00002905 003 OF 003


cement shipment, destined for a DOD project in the Ethiopian
town of Arba Minch, that is languishing for lack of Ethiopian
paperwork. Seyoum asked if there had been a Note Verbal on
this issue. He said he would personally contact the Ministry
of Finance and the Prime Minister's office to sort the issue
out. (Note: Subsequent to the meeting post sent the
requested Note Verbal to the Ministry of Finance and the
issue was positively resolved.)


11. (U) DAS Wycoff cleared this message.
MUSHINGI