Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA406
2009-11-20 07:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
MFA GRANTS FULL PERMISSION FOR PD EVENTS
how-toVZCZCXRO3701 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0406 3240736 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 200736Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0605 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD 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 000406
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/PD
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: MFA GRANTS FULL PERMISSION FOR PD EVENTS
REF: ASMARA 397
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000406
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/PD
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: MFA GRANTS FULL PERMISSION FOR PD EVENTS
REF: ASMARA 397
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (SBU) The embassy received a dipnote from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Nov 19 granting permission to resume
"all public outreach programs as scheduled as of today." To
our surprise, the MFA followed through that evening when
notified that the Ministry of Information (MOI) had ordered
the offsite venue to be locked just before the start of the
PAS book club. Within minutes of the embassy's call to the
MFA to voice concern, two representatives from the MFA
arrived and immediately began to reprimand the venue manager.
The MFA told the manager "you have to treat the Americans
well, otherwise we will lose our cultural programs in the
United States." When the manager asked about the MOI, the
MFA officials replied "we are in charge now."
2. (C) COMMENT: The MFA's actions on Nov 19 mark the first
time the Eritrean government (GSE) has come to the assistance
of post's PD programs. Since our initial problems with the
GSE in July, the MFA has either dodged meetings or given
lukewarm apologies (reftel). It was not until post
threatened to prevent GSE-sponsored cultural groups from
performing in the United States that Post began to see
tangible results.
Tabler-Stone
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/PD
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2019
TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: MFA GRANTS FULL PERMISSION FOR PD EVENTS
REF: ASMARA 397
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).
1. (SBU) The embassy received a dipnote from the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Nov 19 granting permission to resume
"all public outreach programs as scheduled as of today." To
our surprise, the MFA followed through that evening when
notified that the Ministry of Information (MOI) had ordered
the offsite venue to be locked just before the start of the
PAS book club. Within minutes of the embassy's call to the
MFA to voice concern, two representatives from the MFA
arrived and immediately began to reprimand the venue manager.
The MFA told the manager "you have to treat the Americans
well, otherwise we will lose our cultural programs in the
United States." When the manager asked about the MOI, the
MFA officials replied "we are in charge now."
2. (C) COMMENT: The MFA's actions on Nov 19 mark the first
time the Eritrean government (GSE) has come to the assistance
of post's PD programs. Since our initial problems with the
GSE in July, the MFA has either dodged meetings or given
lukewarm apologies (reftel). It was not until post
threatened to prevent GSE-sponsored cultural groups from
performing in the United States that Post began to see
tangible results.
Tabler-Stone