ETHIOPIAN FM DISCUSSES REGIONAL SECURITY WITH DASD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002937

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2019
TAGS: PREL MASS YE SO SU ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN FM DISCUSSES REGIONAL SECURITY WITH DASD
HUDDLESON

Classified By: CDA Tulinabo Mushingi for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told visiting DASD
Ambassador Huddleston the GoE is confident that U.S.-Ethiopia
relations are as strong as ever, and agreed to work with the
Ministry of Defense to resolve issues surrounding Leahy
Vetting requirements for the Ethiopian military. He urged
the U.S. to remain committed to ensuring stability in Sudan
and Somalia, noted that the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) is
increasingly concerned about security in Yemen, and expressed
appreciation for USG support of the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development (IGAD). End summary.


2. (SBU) Visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Africa Ambassador Vicki Huddleston and CDA Tulinabo Mushingi
met with Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin on December 10 for 60
minutes. Seyoum was joined by Director General for Europe
and the Americas Tesfaye Yilma, Americas Director Tebeje
Berhe Shook, and Assistant Spokesman Wahide Belay. The U.S.
was also represented by Brigadier Gen. Wallace Farris of the
Joint Staff, U.S. Defense Attache Col. Bradley Anderson, Col.
Saul Bracero, and PolOff Skye Justice (notetaker).

Bilateral Meetings "Extremely Important and Productive"
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Minister Seyoum opened the meeting by expressing the
GoE's appreciation for the "extremely important and
productive" bilateral talks held in Washington on November 5.
Seyoum added that when the team of senior GoE officials
returned from Washington, they assessed they had behaved
"like a crying child" prior to the talks. He explained that
their numerous complaints were the result of a gap in
communication, but they had been solidly reassured during the
talks that the U.S.-Ethiopia relationship was as strong as
ever. DASD Huddleston responded that her delegation was in
Addis to follow up on the bilateral discussions, and
encouraged Seyoum to ensure that momentum gained during the
meetings is not lost. To this end, Seyoum proposed that the
Embassy work with the GoE to establish a more organized
structure for holding regular bilateral meetings, noting that
such a mechanism had proven helpful in the GoE's relations
with the European Union.

Leahy Vetting: Positive Outlook, but No Details
-------------- --


4. (C) Amb. Huddleston expressed that even though Prime
Minister Meles had assured her the U.S.-Ethiopia security
relationship would remain strong even if the current dispute
over Leahy Vetting was not resolved, she was committed to
resolving it. She noted that it would be difficult to carry
out some of our military cooperation planned for the coming
year without resolving this issue, and that canceling such
activities was not the ideal way to increase security
cooperation as agreed during the Washington talks. Seyoum
responded that he understood that there were no exceptions to
the Leahy Vetting requirements, and while both sides had
strong positions on the matter, a way forward had to be
found. He said he had discussed the issue with Defense
Minister Siraj Fergessa and would do so again, adding that he
was confident that the dispute could be resolved.

U.S. Leadership on Sudan and Somalia Will Be Decisive
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Seyoum praised the USG for its commitment to ensuring
stability in Sudan, warning that an implosion in Sudan could
have broad regional impacts and adding, "we only have one
chance to get this right without an outbreak of violence."
He said signals on the ground were not encouraging, as the
GoE believed elements in the north were provoking unrest in
the south in order to limit the south's ability to stand
united as it declared independence. Seyoum described U.S.
leadership in ensuring peace and stability in both Sudan and
Somalia as "decisive."


6. (C) Seyoum also conveyed the GoE's appreciation for USG
support of IGAD, including DAS Karl Wycoff's participation in
the recent IGAD Ministerial Council Meeting in Djibouti. He

ADDIS ABAB 00002937 002 OF 002


noted that IGAD has directed the GoE and Government of Kenya
to send a joint delegation to Juba and Khartoum to "reinforce
our government's concerns that they are moving slowly and
must engage seriously. The level of trust between the two
sides is not encouraging."

GoE Urges Attention on Yemen
--------------


7. (C) Echoing concerns voiced by Prime Minister Meles,
Seyoum noted the GoE is concerned about security in Yemen.
He stated that Iran is active in Yemen and throughout the Red
Sea area, and that it would be easy for al Qaeda to
infiltrate Yemen to use it as a staging area. Noting
decisions by the U.S. and NATO to send additional troops to
Afghanistan, he cautioned that Somalia presents a similar
threat as a safe haven and base of operations for al Qaeda,
and that Yemen could present a similar threat in the future.


8. (U) This message has been cleared by Ambassador Huddleston.
MUSHINGI