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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000249 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E, DRL FOR SJOSEPH, AND INR/B 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
CJTF-HOA AND CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV ET
SUBJECT: STATE MINISTER TEKEDA DISCUSSES REGIONAL AND 
DOMESTIC ISSUES WITH PDAS THOMAS-GREENFIELD 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000249  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a January 17 meeting with State Minister 
for Foreign Affairs, Tekeda Alemu, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield asked about Ethiopia's 
 
SIPDIS 
outlook for the new Somali government, the Ethiopian 
relationship with Sudan, as well as noted the importance of a 
fair and free election when Ethiopians visit the polls in 
April.  Tekeda told PDAS and Ambassador that Somali Prime 
Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and the new cabinet are "just 
what the doctor ordered" for Somalia at this time, noting 
that Ethiopia's relationship with the new government is very 
productive.  However, he said that the security situation 
continues to be unpredictable and did not express confidence 
in immediate deployment of the necessary numbers of AMISOM 
troops required for Ethiopia to withdraw. Tekeda also noted 
that Ethiopia's relationship with the government of Sudan is 
constructive, and that "Ethiopia is committed to justice for 
those in the South and the West (of the country)."  On local 
elections, Tekeda contrasted Ethiopia's situation with that 
of Kenya's recent elections issues, noting that Ethiopia is 
dominated by one strong party and that such unrest 
surrounding the local elections in April is unlikely. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS IN DIFFICULT TIMES 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Africa Bureau PDAS Linda Thomas-Greenfield, 
accompanied by Ambassador and Poloff (notetaker), met with 
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tekeda Alemu on January 17 
to discuss a range of regional and domestic issues.  Top of 
the agenda was Ethiopia's current relations with the new 
government of Somalia and ongoing challenges with Ethiopia's 
military mission in Somalia.  Tekeda said that Ethiopia is 
currently enjoying an unprecedentedly close and productive 
relationship with the new Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein 
and components of his cabinet (specifically the Deputy Prime 
Minister and the Minister of Information).  He noted that the 
Prime Minister has begun reaching out to parts of the 
opposition and that the political scene is calming down.  The 
security situation, on the other hand, continues to be 
"difficult to predict," Tekeda lamented.  Though somewhat 
better of late, he pointed out that the next contingent of 
Burundian troops to support AMISOM must arrive soon.  He was 
less confident in support from other countries, though, 
pointing out that other countries do not view the situation 
in Somalia as a matter of national security, as the 
Ethiopians do, and thus are less pressed to act.  Tekeda 
complained about outsiders seeking solutions in Somalia, 
noting UNSRSG Ahmedou Ould Abadallah's recent trip to Asmara, 
saying that the only solution was support for the TFG and 
development of TFG security forces adequate to sustain peace 
in Somalia. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On relations with Sudan, State Minister Tekeda told 
PDAS Thomas-Greenfield that Ethiopia has traditionally 
handled its relationship with the government of Sudan very 
carefully.  Though still scarred by the 1995 attempted 
assassination of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Tekeda 
described current relations as stable and positive and noted 
that there is a &good level of trust with a portion of the 
government.8  He pointed out, however, that "Ethiopia has 
made it clear that it is committed to justice for those in 
the south and the west (of the country)." 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
EPRDF LEARNED FROM PAST LESSONS, OPPOSITION HAD CHANCE 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) In response to Tekeda's comment that the recent 
elections in Kenya and the subsequent unrest will be 
difficult to resolve, PDAS Thomas-Greenfield inquired about 
Tekeda's prognosis for the upcoming Ethiopian local elections 
scheduled for April.  Tekeda answered that, had the Kenyan 
elections been held in an environment similar to years ago 
when there was one dominant party, that there would be no 
"vehicle for mobilization" of disgruntled Kenyan voters.  He 
then compared this with the current Ethiopian political 
environment, where he pointed out, there is a very strong 
ruling party.  PDAS Thomas-Greenfield stressed that having a 
weak opposition is contrary to the interest of the 
development of Ethiopian democracy.  Tekeda replied that the 
opposition had had their chance to grow and enhance their 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000249  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
political base in the 2005 elections, following "mistakes 
committed by the ruling party."  "However," Tekeda continued, 
"the ruling party won't let that situation happen again, in 
which they become complacent and arrogant."  PDAS 
Thomas-Greenfield outlined that a winner-take-all approach to 
elections and democracy is detrimental and that the losers 
need to be incorporated in the decision making process of the 
government.  Tekeda pointed out that the 2005 elections gave 
the opposition significant gains, but that Ethiopia needs 
responsible opposition, "not like Hailu Shawel" (Chairman of 
the CUD coalition during the 2005 elections).  "We almost 
lost (control) after the 2005 elections," he said, "it was 
very close."  "The position taken by Washington at the time 
was very helpful and helped us manage the situation.  If the 
US had followed the EU, it would have been very dangerous." 
Tekeda concluded. (NOTE: The EU had declared the opposition 
the winner in 2005 after a small sampling in urban areas. 
With 70 percent of the population living in rural areas, 
President Carter and the Carter Center declared the election 
reflective of a win by the ruling party, which is now 
accepted. END NOTE) 
 
¶5. (U) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas-Greenfield 
was unable to clear on this message before departing Addis 
Ababa. 
MALAC