Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05ADDISABABA4097, ETHIOPIA: THE WAY FORWARD ON POLITICAL DIALOGUE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05ADDISABABA4097.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05ADDISABABA4097 2005-12-12 14:00 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Addis Ababa
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 004097 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID ET ELEC UNREST
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: THE WAY FORWARD ON POLITICAL DIALOGUE 
AND DETAINEES 
 
REF: ADDIS ABABA 3954 
 
Classified By: Charge Vicki Huddleston for reason 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Forward movement on democratization in 
Ethiopia is essential to avoid further political violence as 
well as a further deterioration in the human rights and 
political freedoms.  An improvement in the political climate 
also appears to be the most practical and effective way to 
obtain the eventual release of detained leaders of the CUDP, 
journalists and civil society representatives.  PM Meles is 
ready to reopen political dialogue with the leadership of 
opposition parties in Parliament, and those parties, 
including the UEDF and the OFDM have agreed to initiate 
informal discussions with the GOE.  The Charge arranged for 
PM Meles to meet with party leaders beginning Dec. 12.  Meles 
said he would include the CUD Parliamentary opposition in the 
discussions once they have named a leader.   We expect the 
talks to focus on "rule of law" issues including current 
unrest in Oromiyia improving opportunities for the opposition 
in Parliament, media issues, and National Electoral Board 
(NEB).  As the discussion moves forward, we hope that trust 
will be built that would prepare the way for the realization 
of the EU-US ten point plan, including the release of 
detained CUDP leaders.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) While relative calm has returned to the streets in 
most parts of Ethiopia since widespread, violent protests in 
early November, political tension remains high.  Disturbances 
continue in many parts of the extensive Oromiya region, 
including protests, arrests and some reported killings of 
government opponents.  The Oromo Liberation Front's (OLF) 
call for popular struggle against the GOE appears to have 
prompted much of this unrest. Popular frustration with the 
EPRDF simmers just below the surface in many other areas as 
well, particularly cities and towns.  The continuing 
detentions of Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUDP) 
leadership as well as many CUDP followers is a major factor 
in public anger, as is the more general perception that 
Ethiopia's democratic opening is sliding backwards. 
 
PM and Parliamentary Opposition Agree to Talk 
 
3. (C) The Nov. 6 U.S.-EU Statement on the current situation 
sought to provide a way forward, and included an explicit 
call for the release of CUDP leaders as well as other 
detainees.   PM Meles has categorically rejected a release of 
the detainees prior to their trail, however.  Charges are 
expected to be announced by the government on Thursday. 
Although Embassy and DAS Yamamoto have repeatedly pressed for 
the CUD and civil society leaders release, on a parallel 
course we are seeking to open political space and build 
confidence between the Government and opposition in 
Parliament by encouraging a serious  discussion/dialogue 
between the GOE and those opposition parties in Parliament, 
including the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces and the 
Oromo Federal Democratic Movement (OFDM).  As part of the 
political dialogue with the GOE in October, the UEDF was 
negotiating alongside the CUD a joint agenda focused on 
strengthening Ethiopia's democratic institutions.  PM Meles 
expressed to the Charge in private on at least two occasions 
since early November his willingness to resume discussions on 
the same eight-point agenda agreed before October talks 
collapsed.  The Charge followed up with several meetings with 
UEDF leaders Beyene Petros and Merera Gudina, OFDM leader 
 
SIPDIS 
Bulcha Demeksa and independent (former President) Negaso. 
All agreed December 7 to resume talks with the suspended 
eight-point agenda as a starting point.  PM Meles confirmed 
Dec. 8 that he would be available to do so beginning Dec. 12 
with British Ambassador and Charge present.  Talks with the 
PM are also planned for December 13 and 14; subsequent talks 
will not necessarily include the Prime Minister. The Prime 
Minister suggested that Dr. Negaso (an independent member of 
Parliament) not participate because he does not represent a 
party. This is agreeable to the opposition. 
 
 
The Empty Chair:  CUDP Not Ready to Participate 
 
 
4. (C)  The PM said that he would like to include the leader 
of the CUD Parliamentary group when it chooses a leader.  So 
far, however, the CUD has not successfully re-established its 
decision-making structure since the arrest of its leaders and 
the rejection by the NEB of the coalition's proposed merger 
into a single party in November (reftel).  According to the 
NEB, the CUDP does not exist as a legal entity; PM Meles has 
indicated to the Charge twice in private that the previous 
CUD coalition would be charged with criminal offenses.  There 
are currently at least 59 CUDP MPs who have taken their seats 
in Parliament in defiance of the party's formal decision not 
to do so -- over half of the 109 CUDP MPs elected -- but 
those MPs have studiously avoided any media exposure and do 
not appear to have selected a leader.  Other opposition 
parties confirmed post's impression that the CUD is not yet 
ready to participate in any formal dialogue.  EU Ambassador 
Tim Clarke asked the UEDF and OFDM leaders if they were aware 
of the "danger" of going ahead with talks while the CUD 
leaders are detained.  The four leaders told him that any 
gains they made would be for all the opposition, but that 
this is now the only way forward.  Clarke reluctantly agreed 
to support the effort.  The other EU Troika members, the UK 
and Austrian Ambassadors agreed with the UEDF, OFDM and 
ourselves that the new round of dialogue is the best 
possibility for consolidating democracy.  CUD supporters in 
the Diaspora issued a communiqu Dec. 6 in which they opposed 
any dialogue conducted without their party's participation. 
 
 
Substance: Rule of Law, Parliament, Media and Electoral Board 
 
 
5. (C) The eight-point agenda that will initially guide the 
discussions includes four initial items proposed by the GOE 
that respect for the Constitution by both government and 
opposition, such as recognizing the Constitution and 
institutions of government and rejecting illegal actions. 
The other agenda items are the "rule of law", including such 
matters as arbitrary detentions and harassment of opposition 
parties as well as the disturbances in Oromiya; access to 
responsible public and private media; a review of 
Parliamentary rules and the creation of an effective 
Parliament; and capacity-building for the National Electoral 
Board (NEB) and naming of a new Board.  As before, opposition 
parties would like to push discussion on the NEB agenda item 
to cover deeper reform of the institution to ensure 
impartiality, rather than simply training staff, etc.  The 
UEDF and OFDM also will raise the constitutional issue of 
 
SIPDIS 
when local elections will be held.  Issues will be divided 
into two categories.  Category one includes those issues that 
constitutional obligations.  Category two are those that 
provide political space for the opposition but are not 
mandated by law. 
 
 
Local Mediation Possible, but Only Limited International 
Participation 
 
 
6. (C) While details of the discussions/dialogue are likely 
to evolve following the initial meeting on Dec. 12, the PM 
told the Charge on Dec. 8 that he wanted her and British 
Ambassador Dewar to participate only in the initial session. 
Thereafter, the PM said that the international community 
would be kept informed of progress in the talks.   Meles said 
that he would participate himself in at least the first three 
day of discussion, but would eventually turn them over to 
Public Affairs Advisor Bereket Simon.  In a departure from 
the previous dialogue, the PM suggested that he was 
considering some form of independent Ethiopian mediation or 
observation in the talks.  Among the options appears to be 
participation by representatives of a group of elders, a 
common local form of dispute resolution and reconciliation 
that the GOE has resisted up until now.  UEDF leader Beyene 
Petros suggested separately that someone like Amb. Berhanu 
Dinka, an Ethiopian diplomat currently engaged in Darfur 
mediation, would be a good choice to mediate.  Meles also 
said that he will  initiate a separate discussions with Oromo 
leaders like Merera Gudina and Bulcha Demeksa to discuss 
particular Oromo issues. 
 
 
Expected Outcomes from Dialogue 
 
 
7. (C) If the initial discussions with the Prime Minister are 
productive, we anticipate the following: reduced pressure on 
the Parliamentary opposition and increased political space in 
Parliamentary deliberations so that they have a more 
effective voice; release of remaining detainees from the UEDF 
and OFDM that not linked with OLF's call for insurrection; 
opposition participation in the review of the rules of 
Parliament; agreement by all sides to abide by the 
constitution; better access to the media and a toning down of 
rhetoric on both sides; capacity-building of the NEB; and the 
beginning of a search for solutions to the violence in 
Oromiya.   As the discussions move into category two, we 
would hope to see: revision of Parliamentary rules and at 
least one opposition comittee chairmanship;  consultations 
and agreement on date of local elections and naming of a new 
NEB Board; implementation of a new media law and code of 
conduct agreeable to government and opposition; the full 
participation of the CUD parliamentarians; and an end to 
arbitrary detentions.   It is our expectation that as trust 
is built up through the dialogue, the GOE will not only be 
more willing to loosen its repressive grip on the opposition 
generally, but will also consider a pardon of the CUD and 
civil society leaders, probably after the trial and verdict. 
 
8.  (C) Should the talks with ONC leader Dr. Merera and UEDF 
leader Dr. Bulcha on Oromiya go well, this could lay the 
foundation for resuming OLF cooperation with the government. 
The OLF will have to reinitiate the dialogue, however.   The 
Prime Minister has suggested that one potential solution 
would involve allowing the OLF to participate indirectly in 
Parliament via its natural allies in either the ONC or OFDM. 
 
 
City Government: the Next Target 
 
 
9.  (C)  While the above discussions are underway, the US and 
the Troika will continue to meet with the leaders of the UEDP 
- Medhin, most importantly MP-elect Lidetu Ayalew and deputy 
mayor election Alemasu.  Although many of the UEDP-Medhin 
members have joined Parliament, their leaders fear public 
recrimination if they enter, especially as the CUD press has 
attacked Lidetu for allegedly sabotaging the CUDP merger. 
Assuming the discussions improve cooperation and reduce 
tensions, this would allow the UEDP-Medhin leaders to 
announce publicly their intention to enter Parliament and 
organize its members to take over the government of Addis 
Ababa, where they won the majority of seats.  UEDP-Medhin 
could potentially supply 63 of the 71 Regional Council 
members necessary to form an opposition government in the 
capital.  At least a handful of other members elected to the 
Council under the CUD banner would have to join them.  The 
GOE remains ready to hand over the city administration, but 
will likely appoint a long-term caretaker government if 
opposition Council members-elect to do not show up within the 
next month or so. 
 
 
International Support for Democratic Progress 
 
 
10. (SBU)  Assistance to Parliament, the NEB, and the media 
by USAID and other international donors will be essential to 
supporting and consolidating progress in the GOE-opposition 
discussions.  A USAID contractor will be conducting an 
orientation program for all MPs -- including those elected by 
the CUD who have taken their seats -- during the week of Dec. 
12.  We are working intensively with other members of the 
local Donors Assistance Group (DAG) to conduct a comparative 
study of the rules of Parliamentary procedure that should 
inform GOE-opposition discussions on the need for changes to 
those rules.  We are also developing DAG proposals to respond 
to openings from PM Meles and the Speaker of Parliament for 
technical assistance and training in the area of media law 
and practice. 
 
11.  (C)  AF -- especially DAS Yamamoto and AF/E, led by 
Eunice Reddick -- is playing a essential role in our onging 
efforts to resolve Ethiopia's internal political crisis.  It 
will also be essential to maintain a united front with the 
EU.  Building democracy, calming tensions, and improving 
respect for the rule of law will contribute to a solution of 
the Eritrea/Ethiopian border dispute.   A confrontation will 
become less likely as Ethiopia becomes more stable 
internally.  Both Eritrea and Ethiopia would be better able 
to concentrate their efforts on development, rather than 
confrontation. 
HUDDLESTON