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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001259 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM EAID ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN PRIME MINISTER MELES ON 2010 NATIONAL 
ELECTIONS, DRAFT NGO LAW, AND OGADEN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 
 
REF: ADDIS 1223 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00001259  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) During a nearly three hour meeting on May 9 held 
jointly with the Ambassadors of France and the UK, Ethiopian 
Prime Minister Meles told Ambassador Yamamoto that his 
administration fully supported ethnic diversity and the 
importance of democratic values and good governance in 
conjunction with economic development.  The Prime Minister 
said he wanted a vibrant opposition but not one in violation 
of the constitution or in league with insurgents.  Meles 
committed to working with the international community on 
making the 2010 national elections transparent and open, but 
cautioned that no foreign entity could dictate or direct the 
conduct of the 2010 elections because it would be counter to 
the sovereign rights of Ethiopia. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On a related subject, the three Ambassadors raised 
deep concern that the new proposed NGO law (reftel) would so 
severely restrict NGO operations, especially in support of 
democratic and good governance programs heading into 2010 
elections, that it would severely undermine Ethiopia's 
relations with its most important donor partners.  The Prime 
Minister agreed to delay submission of the proposed law to 
the council of ministers until the ambassadors could submit 
in writing specific concerns and questions on the NGO law and 
follow-up discussion with the Prime Minister. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Ambassadors raised continued problems in the 
Ogaden with distribution of food and medical services, 
especially for inoculations against measles and other 
diseases.  The Prime Minister said he would look into this 
problem, but added that the Ethiopian Government (GoE) lacked 
confidence in some NGOs operating in the Somali region of 
Ethiopia because of their suspected ties to insurgents. The 
Prime Minister agreed that those NGOs under suspicion of 
illegal activities should work with the embassy from their 
respective country to work out modalities for operations in 
the Ogaden region with the GOE.  End Summary. 
 
AMBASSADORS DRAW LINE ON 2010 NATIONAL ELECTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. (SBU) UK Ambassador Norman Ling, French Ambassador 
Stephane Gompertz and the U.S. Ambassador met jointly with 
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and his chief of staff, 
Gebretensai on May 9.  Ambassador Ling noted that democracy 
will flourish if the GoE ensures that the 2010 national 
elections are transparent and the opposition is given 
political space to operate.   The three ambassadors stressed 
the deep frustration of the opposition during the 2008 local 
election in which the major opposition parties boycotted as a 
result of alleged harassment and restrictions by the ruling 
party.  If public frustration could not be relieved through a 
safety valve of open political participation, then the 2010 
elections could pose a serious problem for the government, 
the U.S. Ambassador stated. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Prime Minister asserted that Ethiopia's ethnic 
diversity demands a vibrant democratic process to met the 
aspirations of the people.  Democratic values and good 
governance must develop in conjunction with economic 
development.  Some leaders from developing countries assert 
that economic prosperity must come first before there can be 
development of democratic values.  Meles said that for 
Ethiopia's own political stability and future survival, there 
must be simultaneously a transparent democratic process and 
economic progress. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Meles reviewed the democratic experience in France, 
UK and the U.S. and said Ethiopia must learn from other 
countries, but must also develop its democratic process at 
its own pace based on its unique cultural and social 
situation.   Meles emphasized that foreign governments and 
organizations can play an important role helping to build 
capacity and democratic institutions but cautioned that donor 
countries cannot dictate, direct, or more specifically, 
"micro-manage" Ethiopia's political development like a 
colonial power.  Democratic development must be uniquely 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00001259  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Ethiopian and in accordance with its sovereign rights.  More 
important, complete foreign domination or influence may not 
be in Ethiopia's interest, detracting Ethiopia from 
developing democratic institutions and values which will be 
sustainable for the people of Ethiopia in the context of 
Ethiopia's history and culture. 
 
OPPOSITION PARTIES FACE A ROUGH ROAD 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) Meles expressed concern over opposition development. 
 The opposition must abide by and support the constitution 
and act within the parameters of the constitution. 
Opposition parties cannot be a front for insurgent groups or 
oppose the interests of the country by advocating for 
extremists who seek to undercut the national unity. 
Referring to the genocide in Rwanda, Meles said opposition 
groups must not tamper with or undercut Ethiopia's delicate 
ethnic balance.  Another "mille colline" (a reference to the 
hotel in Kigali, Rwanda which was in the center of the 
genocide) could destroy the country.  Ambassador Ling argued 
that a weak opposition would lead to a weak democratic state. 
 Meles countered that a functioning opposition as well as the 
development the country will take time.  Outside help with 
capacity development and institution building will help the 
democratic process. 
 
NGO LAW IS CONFUSING AND POTENTIALLY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) French Ambassador Gompertz led discussions on the 
importance to allow NGOs to operate freely and unrestricted 
in Ethiopia because of the work they provide for the 
development of Ethiopia.  The U.S. Ambassador noted that the 
May 6 briefing to NGOs by the Justice Minister (reftel) was 
confusing, raising fears that the GoE was trying to 
micro-manage foreign NGOs.  For instance, any NGO that 
receives more than 10 percent of its funding from foreign 
sources would be considered a foreign NGO and subject to 
severe restrictions and oversight -- even those NGOs which 
are distinctly Ethiopian and critical to Ethiopia's political 
development (such as the "Ethiopian Elders" or Ethiopian 
Human Rights Council).  The Justice Minister reportedly told 
NGOs that NGOs determined to be "foreign NGOs" based on their 
funding levels would be restricted from working on democratic 
institution building.  This could lead to many U.S. and 
foreign NGOs (as well as Ethiopian NGOs which receive foreign 
assistance) being marginalized and eliminated from Ethiopia, 
and potentially impact on all NGO activities in other areas 
such as development, the Ambassadors noted. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Prime Minister replied that the purpose of the 
new proposed law was to streamline NGO registration, oversee 
financial transactions to eliminate fraud and ensure NGOs 
were operating within the scope of their mandates.  Meles 
said if the law is confusing and the international community 
has doubts about the draft, then he would delay introduction 
of the proposed legislation to the cabinet by two-to-three 
weeks to give the Ambassadors an opportunity to read the 
proposed draft law and to raise questions in writing with the 
Prime Minister within the next week or so.  The Ambassadors 
noted to the Prime Minister that NGOs would meet to discuss 
the new legislation and their assessment will be used by the 
Ambassadors for the next meeting on this issue with the Prime 
Minister. 
 
OGADEN STILL A HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGE 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The U.S. Ambassador highlighted for the Prime 
Minister that while food deliveries were good, food 
distribution continued to be severely restricted, caught up 
in bureaucratic red tape.  Further, some NGOs were severely 
limited from operating in the region making implementation of 
their projects, particularly measles inoculations, difficult 
to manage.  The Prime Minister said he would discuss the 
problems with his staff.  He underscored that food 
distribution has become more open with military convoys 
eliminated in most of the Ogaden.  The Prime Minister said 
the GoE has lost confidence in some NGOs operating in the 
Ogaden because they are exceeding their mandates by operating 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00001259  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
in areas they had not filed itineraries or not coordinating 
with the GoE, and were suspected of coordinating with 
insurgents. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The U.S. Ambassador asked whether the GoE would 
ease up on restrictions of these NGOs if they worked with 
their respective embassies and complied with the letter of 
the law on where to operate and under conditions established 
by the government.  The Prime Minister responded that this 
would be useful.  The Ambassadors noted that Medecins Sans 
Frontieres (MSF)-Holland and Greece faced the most severe 
restrictions, while U.S. NGOs, WFP and the UN faced fewer 
problems.  But Meles cautioned that some NGOs would never 
overcome doubts about their operations because of deep 
suspicions of their alleged cooperation with insurgent groups. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The U.S. Ambassador hosted a meeting of key donors 
and NGOs on the continued Ogaden food distribution and 
inoculation restrictions on May 9.  The U.S. has pressed with 
Ethiopia's leadership the easing of restrictions on all NGOs. 
 The worry is that such restrictions, which vary in intensity 
across NGOs, could expand to other NGOs and potentially 
affect U.S. NGOs.  The arrival of a new humanitarian 
assistance team will help bring clarity on the extent of 
restrictions on NGOs as well as a clearer picture of the 
extent of the drought and humanitarian problems in the Ogaden 
and other areas of Ethiopia.  The U.S. Ambassador will meet 
with a cross-section of NGOs on May 16 to review the draft 
NGO law and follow-up our concerns directly with the Prime 
Minister. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Moving toward national elections in 2010, the main 
focus of the meeting, will be difficult to manage.  If the 
new NGO law does in fact restrict NGOs from working on 
democratic institution building, good governance, judicial 
capacity, and conflict resolution, then all foreign 
activities would be severely limited to only a few sectors. 
The fear would be that the opposition would be marginalized 
and restricted so completely that there would be little 
political space to operate.  The deep frustration we 
witnessed during the 2008 local elections could expand and 
potentially lead to violence more severe than the aftermath 
of the 2005 elections or more recently in Kenya.  The Embassy 
will actively seek clarification of the new NGO law, urge 
changes, and seek closer involvement in supporting democratic 
institution building, political space for the opposition, and 
greater political expression to ease the growing frustration 
and animosities towards the ruling party.  End comment. 
YAMAMOTO