VZCZCXRO4984
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHAE #0896 3300525
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 260525Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9280
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1522
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1701
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000896 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SUR ER
SUBJECT: CDA HITS WALL WITH GSE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR 
 
REF: ASMARA 874 
 
Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) On November 19, CDA met at her request with Yemane 
Ghebremeskel, Director of the Presidency for the Government 
of the State of Eritrea (GSE).  CDA expressed her hope that 
with the November 28 arrival of the new Ambassador, the 
Embassy could reopen dialogue with the GSE across a range of 
bilateral and regional issues.  She noted her concerns about 
the large defensive military build-ups on the 
Eritrean-Ethiopia border and asked Ghebremeskel's view of UN 
efforts to re-energize a political process to achieve both 
physical demarcation of the border and normalization of 
relations with Ethiopia. 
 
¶2. (C) Ghebremeskel abruptly dismissed CDA's openings for 
discussion, flatly stating he would not share any information 
on the border with the Embassy.  He added that he had just 
read John Bolton's book, commenting "Now we know the truth. 
The GSE knows U.S. policy and the U.S. will not do anything 
that is unpopular with Ethiopia.  The problem is with 
Washington, they won't change their mind.  We have done 
whatever we can ) but policy is skewed.  There is no point 
in our repeating ourselves."  Ghebremeskel stated that senior 
State department officials and others in Washington have 
confirmed to the Eritreans that the border is not a priority 
issue for the U.S.  Twice during the conversation, 
Ghebremeskel made references to U.S. assassination plots. 
When asked to explain what he meant, Ghebremeskel only 
replied that Eritrea had good information from Washington 
sources and if CDA was not aware of these USG discussions, 
she was "out of the loop."   He described U.S. policy as 
hostile and unconstructive, saying that the GSE does not 
expect anything to change, "not in the next six months, the 
next year or even in three years." 
 
¶3. (C) Changing the subject, CDA noted that as the GSE and 
U.S. hold the same professed objective in helping Somalia 
establish a strong, inclusive and viable government, we 
should be able to discuss an integration of GSE efforts with 
those of the international community - similar to our 
engagement on the Darfur peace process.  Ghebremeskel evaded 
the subject of Somalia completely.  He also refused to 
discuss the presence of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys in Eritrea, 
commenting that he had "no idea if he is in Eritrea.  If he 
is, it is of no concern."  He explained that the Asmara 
conference had been a Somali meeting and they could invite 
who they wished.  CDA noted Eritrea's obligations under 
Resolution UN 1267 to refuse transit or safehaven to 
UN-listed terrorist groups or individuals.   Again refusing 
to address the issue directly, Ghebremeskel curtly responded, 
"as far as our international obligations, we try to stick to 
them." 
 
¶4. (C) Comment:  This meeting was the Embassy's first formal 
conversation with Ghebremeskel since last February when the 
former Ambassador met with him concerning GSE interference 
with the Embassy's diplomatic pouches.  Although he had 
agreed to this meeting, Ghebremeskel was clearly agitated 
even before CDA and notetaker arrived, as he was pacing the 
room, and he spent most of the meeting fussing with his hands 
and tapping his foot.  Although always a difficult 
interlocutor, Ghebremeskel's deliberately insulting tone was 
more extreme than in any conversation over the past eighteen 
months, and the meeting stands in marked contrast to Post's 
recent and relatively open conversation with PFDJ Political 
Chief Yemane Ghebreab (reftel).  Whether this exchange 
presages future difficulties for the new Ambassador in 
dealing with the President's office - or merely reflects 
Ghebremeskel's irritation at feeling compelled to meet with 
CDA during a clearly tense time for the GSE - is unknown at 
this point.  However, given his position as President Isaias' 
Chief of Staff and the official nature of the meeting, we can 
surmise that Ghebremeskel's remarks generally reflect the 
views of the president himself.  End Comment. 
MCINTYRE