US embassy cable - 05ADDISABABA3984

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003984 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPKO, MARR, ET, ER, SO, SOMALIA 
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: PM MELES WELCOMES USG ENGAGEMENT ON 
SOMALIA, CALLS IT GREATEST LONG-TERM SECURITY THREAT 
 
 
Classified By: DAS Don Yamamoto for reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: PM Meles told visiting DAS Don Yamamoto Nov. 
29 that Ethiopia welcomed increased USG engagement on 
Somalia.  He called the rise of extremism in Somalia the 
greatest long-term security threat to the region, but said 
there was still time to address it before the danger 
increased.  Meles said Ethiopia no longer favored the use of 
foreign peacekeeping troops; Somalia's Transitional Federal 
Government (TFG) should over time be able to handle its own 
security.  The TFG would need outside resources, however, to 
establish itself and begin governing.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) AF DAS Don Yamamoto met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi 
Nov. 29, accompanied by Charge Vicki Huddleston and PolEcon 
Counselor.  MFA Director for European and American Affairs 
Grum Abay and a notetaker joined Meles.  Septel will cover 
discussion on the Eritrean border situation and the internal 
political situation. 
 
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Yamamoto: USG Will Increase Engagement on Somalia and 
Somaliland 
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3. (S) DAS Yamamoto told PM Meles that the USG was looking 
for ways of promoting engagement in Somalia.  Coordinating 
efforts with regional allies like Ethiopia was essential to 
understanding the Somalia issue.  He noted that Ethiopia was 
the only regional state that bordered both Somalia and 
Somaliland.  Yamamoto conveyed USG appreciation for the 
successful intelligence-sharing program between the U.S. and 
Ethiopia on Somalia.  He recalled that the USG had initiated 
contact from Washington-based officials for the first time 
with the TFG at the UNGA in September, meeting Prime Minister 
Yusuf for the first time.  The U.S. told Yusuf that if he 
built bridges to the TFG Speaker of Parliament and other 
warlords, the U.S. would engage him at a higher level. 
 
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GOE Supports Greater USG Role, Understands Limitations 
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4. (C) PM Meles called a more active U.S. approach "a relief 
for us."  He said Somalia was the greatest long-run security 
threat for Ethiopia and the region, but there was a window 
now to act in order to reduce the risk posed by extremism 
based in Mogadishu.  He said that for the moment, Somalia 
ports were the focal points for organized crime and links 
with Al Qaeda; dangerous elements had not yet made 
significant inroads inland toward Ethiopia.  The PM said he 
understood that the U.S. could not give the same level of 
attention to Somalia as to other threats in the region, but 
that seeing the situation clearly was also important.  If the 
U.S. were not on board, efforts to stabilize Somalia would 
fail.  The TFG's Prime Minister had told Meles that he was 
hearing "positive signals" from the U.S.  The EU was also 
sending such signals.  Meles indicated that Ethiopia had 
"recoiled a bit" from involvement with its southern neighbor, 
but would like to be more proactive in stabilizing the 
situation. 
 
5. (C) When Yamamoto mentioned continuing U.S. reluctance 
about introducing foreign peacekeeping troops in Somalia, the 
PM responded that Ethiopia no longer saw such troops as 
important to stabilizing the TFG.  The important thing was 
for the U.S. and international community to give the TFG the 
"green light" to start operating against Islamic extremist 
groups.  The TFG should over time develop the capacity to 
provide for its own security.  Winning over the bulk of the 
population of Mogadishu would be important to achieve that 
goal, Meles said, and additional resources for the TFG could 
help with that. 
 
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Somaliland: Partner for Stability -- and Prosperity 
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6. (C) Meles told Yamamoto that Somaliland had resources that 
would allow the country to take care of itself.  The GOE had 
been working with hydrocarbons experts to prospect in its own 
territory, but had been told that the real finds were located 
in Somaliland.  Contractors had approached the GOE about 
participating in the construction of a gas pipeline from 
Somaliland to Ethiopia, but there was still too much 
political uncertainty to proceed with the project for now. 
Nevertheless, Ethiopia would engage with Somaliland in order 
to stabilize the north part of Somali territory and then try 
to stabilize as much as possible of the south.  At a minimum, 
such a strategy would "quarantine" problems in a more limited 
area.  Amb. Yamamoto agreed that engaging with Somalia should 
be both a counter-terrorism and a development issue.  He 
underscored concerns in the U.S. about Somali pirates' 
attacks on international shipping.  Meles also noted that 
South Africa jad visited Hargese and showed interest in 
Somaliland issues.  U.S. interest would complement South 
African efforts. 
HUDDLESTON