ERITREA'S MFA ISSUES RARE APOLOGY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000397

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/PD
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2019
TAGS: PREL SOCI KPAO ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA'S MFA ISSUES RARE APOLOGY

REF: ASMARA 298

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


1. (SBU) MOI ATTEMPTS TO HALT THE AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION
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The Eritrean MFA told Embassy Asmara in August to suspend PD
outreach activities until further notice (ref). On November
9 MFA informed post in writing that scheduled PD activities
could resume, but only until November 25. As part of post's
monthly lecture series, the ambassador planned to speak at an
auditorium near the American Center on November 12. Post
widely advertized the event. The afternoon of the lecture
post was informed by the auditorium's manager that the
Ministry of Information had ordered the auditorium locked to
halt the ambassador's presentation. Post's attempts to
reason with the Ministry of Information fell on deaf ears;
post informed MFA, which was unable to help in time for the
event. Post quickly arranged to hold the presentation at the
patio area on the embassy compound, setting up lighting, fire
barrels (for warmth),a PA system, projector, snacks, and
chairs. About 100 guests attended the ambassador's
presentation.

2. (SBU) MFA APOLOGIZES
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The MFA called the ambassador in on November 16. Expecting
to be lambasted for draft sanctions resolutions or something
similar, the ambassador was surprised to hear the deputy
foreign minister (equivalent) issue a straightforward apology
for the disruption to the PD presentation the previous week,
saying it was the result of poor communication between the
two ministries. Further, he informed the ambassador that
post's planned PD activities could resume beyond November 25.
The ambassador thanked the ministry for the apology and
permission to be able to resume PD outreach events (Note:
Post has not received any formal diplomatic note on this
issue, but will presume that coordination with MOI and
National Security has taken place in advance of our next
event scheduled for November 18). He then raised the issue
of in-country travel restrictions, few Eritrean visas for TDY
USG visitors, the lack of a license for the new COM vehicle,
and unanswered requests for physical security improvements at
the chancery. The ruling party's political director, Yemane
Ghebreab, phoned the ambassador at the CMR late November 12,
also to apologize for the lock-out of the presentation.

3. (C) COMMENT: Wags in Asmara claim there are three things
you'll never hear an Eritrean government official say:
please, thank you, and I'm sorry. The regime's behavior
after the MOI's attempt to torpedo the ambassador's
presentation was a rare expression of civility. Perhaps the
exception that proves the rule? In any event, we're glad to
be able to resume our popular and effective PD outreach
activities.
McMULLEN