Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA213
2009-07-02 11:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ISAIAS SPURNS QADHAFI'S AU INVITATION
how-toVZCZCXRO4915 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHAE #0213 1831110 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 021110Z JUL 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0354 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000213
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PREL ER LY AU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS SPURNS QADHAFI'S AU INVITATION
REF: ASMARA 205
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000213
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PREL ER LY AU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS SPURNS QADHAFI'S AU INVITATION
REF: ASMARA 205
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Qadhafi sent a special envoy to Asmara to issue a
personal invitation to Isaias to attend the African Union
summit in Sirte, the Libyan charge d'affaires told the
ambassador July 1. "The special envoy emphasized that the
Sirte summit would provide Eritrea an opportunity to make its
case about Somalia and other regional issues," the Libyan
diplomat confided. When asked what the Eritrean response was
to this special invitation, the frustrated CDA shook his head
and said, "As is typical, the Eritreans gave no reply." The
Eritrean deputy foreign minister verified that President
Isaias is not attending the AU summit.
2. (C) When the Secretary (then FLOTUS) visited Eritrea in
1997, she lunched at the CMR with the current Eritrean
ministers of justice and tourism. At a dinner July 1, the
ambassador got Justice Minister Fawzia Hashim and Tourism
Minister Askalu Menkerios to share warm reminisces about the
visit. Askalu recalled planting a tree in the grounds of a
rural clinic, and Fawzia said the luncheon with Eritrean
women leaders was very special. When the ambassador
mentioned that we have been trying for ten days to get a call
through from the Secretary to President Isaias, both
ministers stopped smiling and looked down at their plates.
"Well, he has been traveling a lot lately," one of the
ministers lamely offered. They appeared to be surprised and
uncomfortable with the news of their president's
obstreperousness.
3. COMMENT: Isaias seems hell-bent on furthering Eritrea's
isolation; he has reportedly alienated Sudan (ref),Libya,
and possibly Qatar. His narcissism may lead him to believe
that his absence from Sirte will hurt Qadhafi and the AU more
than Eritrea. His anger at IGAD and the AU over their
criticism of Eritrea's meddling in Somalia probably caused
him to reject Qadhafi's personal invitation. His refusal to
date to speak with the Secretary could stem from his
realization that the USG is not suddenly going to countenance
his regime's gross violation of human rights at home and its
destabilizing actions in the region. Isaias perhaps hoped
that the new U.S. administration would for some reason
abandon core U.S. values and strategic concerns, while he
could continue his bad behavior and garner U.S. support.
Miffed MFA officials claim the USG "encouraged" IGAD and the
AU to take their strong anti-Eritrea stances. The imperious
Isaias regime is increasingly isolated and sulky; in tough
times it reverts to the militant stubbornness that saw it
through 30 years of guerrilla war. End Comment.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2019
TAGS: PREL ER LY AU
SUBJECT: ISAIAS SPURNS QADHAFI'S AU INVITATION
REF: ASMARA 205
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Qadhafi sent a special envoy to Asmara to issue a
personal invitation to Isaias to attend the African Union
summit in Sirte, the Libyan charge d'affaires told the
ambassador July 1. "The special envoy emphasized that the
Sirte summit would provide Eritrea an opportunity to make its
case about Somalia and other regional issues," the Libyan
diplomat confided. When asked what the Eritrean response was
to this special invitation, the frustrated CDA shook his head
and said, "As is typical, the Eritreans gave no reply." The
Eritrean deputy foreign minister verified that President
Isaias is not attending the AU summit.
2. (C) When the Secretary (then FLOTUS) visited Eritrea in
1997, she lunched at the CMR with the current Eritrean
ministers of justice and tourism. At a dinner July 1, the
ambassador got Justice Minister Fawzia Hashim and Tourism
Minister Askalu Menkerios to share warm reminisces about the
visit. Askalu recalled planting a tree in the grounds of a
rural clinic, and Fawzia said the luncheon with Eritrean
women leaders was very special. When the ambassador
mentioned that we have been trying for ten days to get a call
through from the Secretary to President Isaias, both
ministers stopped smiling and looked down at their plates.
"Well, he has been traveling a lot lately," one of the
ministers lamely offered. They appeared to be surprised and
uncomfortable with the news of their president's
obstreperousness.
3. COMMENT: Isaias seems hell-bent on furthering Eritrea's
isolation; he has reportedly alienated Sudan (ref),Libya,
and possibly Qatar. His narcissism may lead him to believe
that his absence from Sirte will hurt Qadhafi and the AU more
than Eritrea. His anger at IGAD and the AU over their
criticism of Eritrea's meddling in Somalia probably caused
him to reject Qadhafi's personal invitation. His refusal to
date to speak with the Secretary could stem from his
realization that the USG is not suddenly going to countenance
his regime's gross violation of human rights at home and its
destabilizing actions in the region. Isaias perhaps hoped
that the new U.S. administration would for some reason
abandon core U.S. values and strategic concerns, while he
could continue his bad behavior and garner U.S. support.
Miffed MFA officials claim the USG "encouraged" IGAD and the
AU to take their strong anti-Eritrea stances. The imperious
Isaias regime is increasingly isolated and sulky; in tough
times it reverts to the militant stubbornness that saw it
through 30 years of guerrilla war. End Comment.
MCMULLEN