Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA323
2009-09-24 12:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN ERITREA (C-CI9-01825)

Tags:  PINR BBSR ECON EINV ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAE #0323 2671257
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 241257Z SEP 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0498
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000323 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/OPS, AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: PINR BBSR ECON EINV ER
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN ERITREA (C-CI9-01825)

REF: STATE 88241

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(C).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000323

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/OPS, AF/E

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: PINR BBSR ECON EINV ER
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN ERITREA (C-CI9-01825)

REF: STATE 88241

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(C).


1. (C) Per Reftel post submits the following responses as
requested:


A. (C) There is no Russian trade representative in Eritrea.
The Russian Embassy consists of three officers: an
ambassador, a DCM, and one attache.


B. (C) There are no Russian companies operating in Eritrea.
The Russian Embassy states the unattractive business climate,
which includes the inability to exchange local currency into
hard currency, is the main reason for not doing business in
Eritrea.


C. (C) N/A


D. (C) N/A


E. (C) No, Eritrea is not pushing for Russian investment or
tourism.


F. (C) There are approximately 30 Russian citizens in Eritrea
at any given time. These include those assigned to the
Russian Embassy, ICRC staffers, physicians, and their
families. A half-dozen or more Russian military flight
instructors and airplane mechanics supporting the Eritrean
Air Force (MIG aircraft) are usually in-country at any given
time. They rotate in and out of the country and the Russian
Embassy claims to not always know when they are in town. A
number of pilots from the ex-Soviet republics support the
Eritrean airline "Nasair" and this sometimes includes a
Russian pilot.


2. (C) The Russian Embassy states that a number of high-level
Eritrean government employees and Eritrean physicians
practicing in Eritrea were trained in Russia (U.S.S.R.)
several decades ago. A Russian Embassy attache stated he
would like his government to pursue better relations with the
Eritrean government because of their history and some
Eritrean officials speak Russian, but there is a lack of
interest at this time in doing so.


3. (U) For further information, point of contact is ConOff
Pamela Hack, e-mail HackPJ@state.gov, telephone 291-1-120-004
x2415.
MCMULLEN