ISAIAS GIVES EC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER COLD

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000252 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND NAIROBI FOR USAID LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID EUN ER SUBJECT: ISAIAS GIVES EC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER COLD SHOULDER REF: ASMARA 113 Classified By: Amb. Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) Louis Michel, former European Commission (EC) Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, met with President Isaias July 30 to discuss the details of the upcoming 122 million euro aid package Eritrea is set to receive (reftel). In addition, Michel brought up two specific political concerns, according to an EC representative. He asked Isaias to improve Eritrea's relations with the United States. Michel also asked about the prospects for the release of long-incarcerated Swedish journalist, Dawit Isaak. President Isaias directly responded with a "no" on both accounts. In typical fashion, Eritrea's local media reported only that "Louis Michel... shares similar views as that of the President." ¶2. (C) COMMENT: The EC is Eritrea's largest bilateral donor and has consistently channeled hundreds of millions of euros directly to the government via its Economic Development Fund (EDF). In exchange, the EC has been granted frequent in-country travel permits and relative immunity from the GSE's daily anti-Western rhetoric. EC ambassadors have even begun regular dialogue with high-level officials on a range of topics such as human rights and migration. It is clear there is no real political payback, however, as shown by Isaias's refusal to consider Michel's concerns. MCMULLEN