US embassy cable - 06ADDISABABA3114

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003114 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PTER, SO, SU, DJ, ER, ET 
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: DEPUTY FM TALKS ABOUT DIALOGING WITH 
CIC, SOMALILAND INDEPENDENCE, EEBC DECISION 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A 
ND (D). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda Alemu told 
Vicki Huddleston on November 20 (during a farewell call) that 
Ethiopia preferred to dialogue with the CIC rather than enter 
into armed conflict.  Tekeda said that Ethiopia had invited 
the CIC to talks in Addis Ababa, and the "ball was now in the 
CIC court."  Tekeda recognized that a successful dialogue 
with the CIC would result in government body that merged both 
TFG and CIC representatives.  Tekeda advocated for 
recognition of Somaliland, pointing out that it would be 
critical to get Egypt on board.  He said, however, that 
meaningful and lasting dialogue would not be possible until 
the CIC expelled the jihadists, Eritreans, and other outside 
forces.  Tekeda asked the USG help to organize the 
international community and particularly African countries to 
support independence for Somaliland to contain the growing 
CIC.  With regard to the EEBC's recent announcement that it 
planned to move forward with border demarcation based on a 
coordinates, Tekeda said he did not understand the EEBC's 
decision given Eritrea's violation of 1640 and current 
occupation of the TSZ.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Huddleston met with Deputy Foreign Minister Tekeda 
Alemu and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Europe and 
North America Almaz Amha for a farewell call on November 20. 
Huddleston told Tekeda that the US will continue to seek a 
stronger a partnership with Ethiopia and help the country 
with its evolving democracy and internal/regional threats. 
Huddleston explained that the US will continue to push 
Ethiopia on its human rights record and moving forward on a 
resolution to the border conflict with Eritrea. 
 
SOMALIA 
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3. (C) The former Charge told Tekeda that Ethiopia was moving 
more troops and equipment to the Somali border and asked what 
Ethiopia had planned.  Tekeda explained that Ethiopian 
continues to leave the door open for dialogue and it was 
preferable to armed conflict.  He said that the CIC has been 
invited to talks in Addis Ababa but, thus far, the CIC has 
been reluctant to take the offer.  Tekeda noted that the GOE 
has been in constant dialogue with the CIC through its 
representatives in London, but the GOE insists that any 
meaningful talks must be held in Addis Ababa.  Tekeda said 
that once the CIC becomes "serious" about holding substantive 
talks, Ethiopia is ready. 
 
4. (C) Huddleston asked Tekeda if the GOE had thought about 
advocating for a TFG that better reflected Somalia's 
population.  Tekeda said that at this point and given the TFG 
weakened status, it wasn't worth it to shuffle positions in 
the TFG.  He noted, however, that a "successful" dialogue 
between the TFG and CIC would result in some incorporation of 
the CIC into the TFIs.  He said that Hawiye representation in 
particular would likely be strengthened. Tekeda posited that 
the TFG needed to be better at its public diplomacy effort. 
He said that the TFG needed to focus on denying the CIC 
momentum, rather than reversing the situation.  Tekeda 
suggested that the TFG target moderates and give them an 
alternative to the CIC. 
 
SOMALILAND 
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5. (C) Huddleston asked the Deputy Foreign Minister about the 
CIC's efforts and successes to subvert Somaliland.  Tekeda 
said that Somaliland will "hold firm," but it's in need of 
capital (money) to continue holding off the CIC's advances 
into the region.  Tekeda said that recognition of Somaliland 
as an independent nation by the international community is 
the only way to limit the CIC's growth and ambitions of a 
"greater Somalia."  Tekeda suggested that the US and UK lobby 
African countries, particularly South Africa, Congo 
Brazzaville, and Zambia, to support Somaliland independence. 
He said that Arab League opposition might be neutralized even 
though Libya would be opposed to Somaliland's independence, 
if Egypt could be swayed.  Tekeda explained how Djibouti 
would be against independence because of the Arab League's 
influence over the country, but added that Egypt could play a 
pivotal role in getting Djibouti to a neither for or against 
stance on the issue. 
 
BORDER 
 
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6. (C) Huddleston explained to Tekeda the USG's concern about 
the EEBC's decision to demarcate the border based on 
coordinates and pushed the Deputy Foreign Minister to 
continue dialogue with the Witnesses.  Tekeda said that the 
GOE did not understand the EEBC's decision and questioned why 
the EEBC was "rewarding" Eritrea for violating 1640 and 
occupying the TSZ.  Huddleston said that Ethiopia's decision 
not to attend the November 20 EEBC meeting sent the wrong 
signal to the international community.  Tekeda lamented that 
if the current situation with Eritrea did not exist, the two 
countries would be formidable allies and a powerful force 
against the "problems" in Somalia.  Huddleston told Tekeda 
that the current border impasse was one of Ethiopia's 
greatest challenges and its resolution key to Ethiopia's 
democratic and economic development. 
YAMAMOTO