ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES CAUTIONS DIPLOMATS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 000640 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL EAID ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES CAUTIONS DIPLOMATS TO PUSH DEMOCRACY NOT PRO-OPPOSITION IN 2010 ELECTIONS REF: A. ADDIS 459 ¶B. ADDIS 578 Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Prime Minister Meles cautioned the Ambassador during a March 7 meeting that foreign diplomats and governments are giving misleading messages to the opposition and domestic insurgent group, the Oromo National Liberation Front (ONLF). The opposition and ONLF come away from their meetings within European capitals and Washington perceiving that the West supports their activities, emboldening both groups to avoid dialogue with the government which could lead to greater violence heading into the 2010 national elections. Reports received by the Ethiopian Government (GoE) that the ONLF leadership met with the Office of the Vice President in Washington recently, sends a particularly powerful message of support to the ONLF, whose "terrorist" activities in the Somali region of Ethiopia, Meles said, undercuts the efforts of the Ethiopian government to end the deadly insurgency. He urged the U.S. along with the Europeans, to make clear to the opposition and ONLF that violence is not a means to achieve objectives. Further, the hardball tactics of resistance in not engaging in dialogue by the opposition will only harden positions and contribute to tensions and potential violence. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador raised the detention of opposition leader Birtukan Midekssa, but the Prime Minister was adamant that she violated the terms of her pardon and release from jail in August 2007 making her December re-arrest and pardon revocation justified and necessary. The Prime Minister added that opposition leader Hailu Shawel advocates religious intolerance. Meles noted that the opposition's tactics to evade constitutional procedures and appeal to the West to pressure the government on Birtukan's case and others issues only enhances political instability. The Prime Minister raised Ethiopia's perception of U.S.-Ethiopian relations becoming contentious and less predictable and the need for senior level meetings to resolve misunderstandings. Finally, Meles said he was tackling the bottlenecks on food deliveries. End Summary. GOVERNMENT MESSAGE TO THE OPPOSITION AND ONLF -------------- ¶3. (C) Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told Ambassador, accompanied by DATT and another military assistant, on March 7, that the opposition and ONLF were receiving misleading messages from the U.S. and Europe, emboldening them to act in defiance of the Ethiopian government, undercutting dialogue with the government in favor of confrontation, and potentially steering the country towards division leading up to the 2010 national elections. The Prime Minister pointed out that the ONLF leadership was received by low ranking officials in Europe, but in the U.S. they were received by members of Congress and there is a report that the Office of the Vice President received the group. This sends a powerful message of support by the U.S. and others for the ONLF which will make the efforts by the Ethiopian Government to end this deadly insurgency more contentious and difficult. Meles said meeting with the ONLF provides them credibility and the impression that their activities, including the killing of seven Chinese oil workers and dozens of civilians in 2007, as well as the killing of clan elders, justifiable. A clear message that violence is unacceptable and holding them accountable for their actions are critical in sending a message to their victims that such actions are not acceptable. The Ambassador underscored that the Embassy issued statements condemning the killings by the ONLF. ¶4. (C) This is the same with the opposition, Meles argued. Opposition leaders have received funding and support during their rallies in Europe and the U.S. Foreign diplomats meet with them in Addis Ababa. Berhanu Nega -- the 2005 mayor-elect of Addis Ababa who fled to the U.S. and has called for struggle by any means since being released from jail in 2007 -- receives wide support in the U.S., where he now lives and teaches, and yet is not condemned for his call for violence against the government. Opposition leader Hailu Shawel advocates religious intolerance and his message of hate against Islam is creating violence in Gondar, which ADDIS ABAB 00000640 002 OF 003 Hailu wants to make a Christian reserve by excluding Muslims. The opposition believes, Meles added, that they can depend on support from the West to evade the constitution and apply pressure on the government to change laws and policies advocated by the opposition. This undercuts efforts to promote dialogue between the opposition and government parties. Further, this could potentially lead to a more fractious division with the country heading into the 2010 elections. This could potentially lead to violence. ¶5. (SBU) Meles underscored that the message to the opposition must be one of non-violence. Violence is unacceptable, and working under the constitution to advance democratic values must be the only way to secure change and advancement of issues. Meles urged the Ambassador to make this clear to other diplomats and to convey a strong message of non-violence to the opposition. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador replied that the U.S. makes clear to the opposition that violence will always be condemned, has cut off senior meetings with Hailu because of his message of hate, and has advocated for political dialogue. In this context, the Ambassador raised the re-arrest of opposition leader Birtukan Midekssa. Meles restated that her case is a legal one out of his control and concluded that Birtukan will not be released under pressure from the West, but only under the constitution. Despite the fact that Birtukan has now become a major issue detracting from other important issues such as democracy and the 2010 elections, Meles emphasized that the rule of law must be preserved. Meles added that Birtukan's advisors urged her to risk jail for the opposition cause. Meles said the government will not be undermined by internal opposition debates and that the rule of law must be defended. U.S.-ETHIOPIAN RELATIONS LESS PREDICTABLE -------------- ¶7. (C) Meles briefly reiterated his points on U.S.-Ethiopian relations made to the Ambassador in a private meeting earlier in the week (ref B). He underscored the necessity of predictability and a clear indication of where Ethiopia fits in the U.S. thinking on regional, security, and economic development issues. Bilateral senior level meetings would be useful to clarify relations. FOOD DISTRIBUTION -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Ambassador noted that food distribution has improved greatly in the Ogaden regions of the Somali region, but remains a problem at the port of Djibouti. Meles said he is well aware of the problem and that the government is resolving food shipment problems in the congested port of Djibouti to ensure that investors and builders get their cement while World Food Programme (WFP) can get food out. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) Prime Minister Meles' assertions that it is the opposition at fault underscores anxieties that the U.S. and West are supporting the opposition point of view on recent cases of harassment of opposition supporters. Such harassment has led to the marginalization of the opposition as witnessed by local elections in which the opposition could secure only one one-millions of the contested seats. The ruling party's executive committee meetings during the week highlighted the U.S. as one of the topics. The Ambassador and Political/Economic Counselor visited Tigray last week, the heart of the ruling party's stronghold, to assure party members of the importance of Ethiopia to the U.S. but also the necessity to address concerns, specifically giving political space to the opposition and pushing forward on political dialogue. The Prime Minister's defensive posture reinforces the government's view, however misguided, that the U.S. will become tougher and more focused on human rights and democratic issues at the expense of regional security and sustainable economic growth programs for Ethiopia. Once the new Africa team is announced in the Department, senior bilateral meetings would be useful in setting issues clearly on the table. ¶10. (C) We would also welcome information on whether the Vice President's office did in fact meet with the ONLF, ADDIS ABAB 00000640 003 OF 003 considering that the State Department did not meet with the group. Of particular interest would be information on what was discussed and any messages conveyed. End Comment. YAMAMOTO