GSE LIGHTENS UP ON TRAVEL, VISAS, AND POUCHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000035


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2009
TAGS: PREL AMGT ER
SUBJECT: GSE LIGHTENS UP ON TRAVEL, VISAS, AND POUCHES

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


1. (C) Summary: In recent weeks, Post has seen a marked
loosening of restrictions in our interactions with the GSE,
and since the inauguration of President Obama, GSE officials
have been uncharacteristically cordial and cooperative. The
three major local bilateral irritants-- TDY visas, pouches,
and in-country travel restrictions-- have diminished and we
have heard travel restrictions for diplomats may soon be
liberalized. End Summary.

Loosening of Travel Restrictions
--------------

2. (C) Since Decenber 20, we have received fourteen travel
permits-- three for Gura, three for Qohaito, and eight for
Massawa. We had been refused multiple times before for the
latter two towns for both personal and official trips. In the
same time period, no travel permits were denied. Post heard
from other diplomats in Asmara that the GSE said the
requirement for travel permits would be abolished.

And TDY Visas
--------------

3. (C) The TDY visa situation has likewise improved. The
latest visa granted was to a comsec auditor who will visit
post the week of February 1. In recent months, the GSE also
granted visas to a security systems technician, our OBO area
manager, and a consular systems technician. Since these
visas pre-date the sudden warmth, we believe the GSE granted
them because we had made it clear that the lack of
maintenance was undermining our operations and endangered our
ability to keep this embassy-- and by extension theirs-- open.

Holding Our Breath on Pouches
--------------

4. (C) Since resolving last fall's dust-up over the detention
of 26 pouches containing computer equipment, our unclassified
pouch deliveries have proceeded expeditiously. We collect
all pouches the morning after their late-night arrival as
soon as the airport customs office opens. We have been able
to halt the stop-gap Fedex pouch deliveries, which were
expensive. The paranoid regime views the diplomatic pouch as
a threat; most diplomatic missions in Asmara have had pouch
difficulties, including delays and inspections. It's hard to
see the GSE letting go of control of the pouch. We will,
however, attempt another classified pouch delivery in the
next month, one that will include cargo in the aircraft hold.

Tapping into their Inner Party Animal
--------------

5. (C) While GSE officials have been willing to accept our
social invitations, in our memory not one has been extended
to us until this week. Yemane Ghebreab invited the
ambassador and his wife to a lavish lunch with other Eritrean
officials. Throughout the event, Yemane kept the tone light
and the conversation away from official business. At a
recent reception for the new British DCM, our main MFA
contacts were unusually warm; even the normally grouchy chief
of protocol was positively jolly (though perhaps it was
because the weight of office was about to be lifted from him.
He has since moved on.).

Making Hay While the Sun Shines
--------------

6. (C) While we believe the GSE, perhaps even Isaias himself,
is sincere about wanting better relations with the Obama
Administration, we are not certain the government understands
what we would require to put our relationship on a normal
footing, particularly with regard to Somalia. We will
continue to spell out in the clearest terms possible our
concerns and expectations. GSE sources claim a new draft
policy focused on "Engaging with the United States on Areas
of Mutual Interest" is nearly finished, and includes sections
penned by Isaias himself. We have noted the daily propaganda
blast against the United States has stopped. In the
meantime, we will take advantage of the current lessening of
restrictions to get out of Asmara as much as possible,
schedule visits for long-overdue temporary duty personnel,
and bring in much-needed equipment.

MCMULLEN