ETHIOPIA: 1999 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 006849 DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT FOR REAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: 1999 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: STATE 204472 ¶1. FORMAT FOR THIS MESSAGE WAS DERIVED FROM REFTEL. ¶A. THE ETHIOPIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE TO RESPOND TO ANY ACTS OF TERRORISM DURING 1999, INCLUDING HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM. ¶B. ETHIOPIA DID NOT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECUTION DURING 1999. IF REQUESTED TO DO SO, THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD EXTRADITE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS TO THE UNITED STATES. ¶C. THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. ¶D. THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS IN THE PAST PUBLICLY CONDEMNED TERRORISM AND WOULD COOPERATE FULLY WITH ANY INVESTIGATION INTO TERRORIST ACTS OR INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INVESTIGATIONS. ¶E. ETHIOPIA ACTIVELY PROSECUTES SUSPECTED TERRORISTS AGAINST SOMALIA. HOWEVER, THE ETHIOPIA GOVERNMENT'S FOCUS IN 1999 HAS BEEN ON THE BORDER DISPUTE WITH ERITREA. ¶F. ETHIOPIA DOES NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS, OR TERRORIST GROUPS, NOR DO THEY OFFER ANY SUPPORT OR EXTEND ANY PRIVILEGES OR TRAINING. ¶G. THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS SUPPORTING A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORIST ISSUE. ¶H. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1998 IN ETHIOPIA'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. ETHIOPIA IS VERY AGGRESSIVE IN ANTI-TERRORISM EFFORTS. ¶I. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COOPERATION ON COUNTER-TERRORISM INITIATIVES IN TERMS OF TRAINING. THE ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES COOPERATE FULLY WHEN SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED. ¶J. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COOPERATION. ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS BEEN CONVICTED, THEY HAVE COOPERATED FULLY. THE ETHIOPIANS ARE EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THROUGH PORTS OF ENTRY. ¶K. THE EMBASSY HAS NOT SOUGHT COOPERATION DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS IN THE PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS. HOWEVER, IF REQUESTED, IT IS BELIEVED ETHIOPIA WOULD COOPERATE FULLY. ¶2. (U) SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE RSO OFFICE. NAGY