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FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000459 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN FORMIN CALLS FOR SENIOR BILATERAL TALKS TO 
CLARIFY U.S. POLICY TOWARD ETHIOPIA 
 
REF: ADDIS 257 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin called in 
Ambassador and USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director February 20 to 
officially protest Congress' listing of Ethiopia in last year's 
foreign operations appropriations bill (section 620) with 20 other 
countries -- including Sudan, Zimbabwe and Iran -- for mandatory 
submission of a special congressional notification (CN) before 
assistance can be disbursed.  Seyoum, reflecting the consensus view 
of the ruling party and the government leadership, said the U.S. is 
altering its view of Ethiopia as an important partner in Africa.  He 
expressed deep disappointment that Ethiopia would be lumped in a 
category with Zimbabwe and Sudan as the only Sub-Saharan African 
countries, not to mention Iran and Cuba, requiring such a special 
notification.  If the U.S. has altered its view of Ethiopia, the 
Foreign Minister requested immediate senior level bilateral meetings 
in Washington or in Addis. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador replied that the GoE was completely 
misreading the Foreign Operations bill, and reminded Seyoum that the 
bill was passed last July under the Bush Administration, which 
Ethiopia's leadership viewed as more supportive of Ethiopia. 
Further, Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign 
assistance and the special CN requirement enforces what is already 
the usual procedure for bilateral assistance for Ethiopia.  The 
Ambassador cautioned that the United States Government's new Africa 
foreign policy team has not been named yet and that it will take 
time before there can be senior bilateral meetings.  Ambassador 
highlighted that recent talks with the acting Assistant Secretary 
(reftel) reflects the Administration's views.  More important, the 
Ambassador raised concerns that the U.S. has in general with 
Ethiopia over human rights (especially the arrest of opposition 
leader Birtukan Midekssa) and democratic governance issues which 
will continue to be a focus for the Congress.  The Foreign Minister 
said he welcomed such discussions because it would be between two 
good friends.  But the listing of Ethiopia in the Foreign Operations 
bill was a deep concern for Ethiopia.  End Summary. 
 
ETHIOPIA CALLS FOR SENIOR LEVEL BILATERAL DIALOGUE 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Foreign Minister Seyoum, accompanied by Chief of Staff 
Mulugeta and Director General for Europe and the Americas Tesfaye 
Yilma, called in Ambassador and USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director 
Glenn Anders on February 20 to protest U.S. Congressional action, 
calling it reflective of a changed attitude by the U.S. government 
towards Ethiopia.  The Foreign Minister cited the 2008 Foreign 
Operations Appropriations Bill, section 620 in which 20 countries, 
including Ethiopia, were designated for "special notification 
requirements."  This one paragraph in a long appropriations bill 
requires the submission of a congressional notification prior to 
disbursement of any assistance for Ethiopia.  While Mexico, Serbia, 
Pakistan are also listed, the Foreign Minister focused on Iran, 
Cuba, and the African countries of Sudan and Zimbabwe to express 
Ethiopia's "deep disappointment and unhappiness" with the 
Congressional designation. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Seyoum stated that Ethiopia felt it had a "special" 
relationship with the U.S. on security and regional political 
issues, and close cooperation on anti-poverty efforts.  Zimbabwe and 
Sudan are pariah states which oppose the U.S. while Ethiopia and the 
U.S. have a close relationship.  He called USAID a "great friend" 
and questioned the change in attitude by the U.S.  "The single 
paragraph must reflect a new perspective by the U.S. towards 
Ethiopia," Seyoum stated.  Seyoum added that Ethiopia wants 
"predictability" in the U.S. relationship.  To clearly understand if 
Ethiopia is important to the U.S. there should be consistency in 
statements and policy.  Finally, Seyoum said he welcomed senior 
bilateral discussions either in Washington or in Addis Ababa and 
urged that they be conducted soon. 
 
MISREADING OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTION... 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) USAID/Ethiopia Mission Director Anders noted that U.S. 
assistance for Ethiopia has reached historic highs in the past year 
with about one billion dollars in aid to Ethiopia, and that 
development and humanitarian collaboration, particularly 
relationships with counterpart ministries and new ministers, had 
never been closer.  The Director and Ambassador argued that the 
section 620 language reflects only a brief paragraph in a very long 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000459  002 OF 002 
 
 
appropriations bill.  The Ambassador noted to Seyoum that the bill 
was not a recent congressional action, but rather was taken last 
summer when the previous U.S. Administration remained in office. 
Further, senior level meetings may take time pending the selection 
and Senate confirmation of the new Assistant Secretary. 
 
...BUT, THERE ARE U.S. CONCERNS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ambassador noted deep concerns by Congress over human 
rights and democracy issues in Ethiopia and emphasized that these 
issues are of concern to the new Administration as well, noting the 
recent visit by the acting Assistant Secretary who raised questions 
on human rights and democratic governance.  Seyoum said Ethiopia 
welcomes such discussions because it would be between friends and 
that it is, Ethiopia hopes, a mature relationship in which such 
issues can be discussed.  But the Foreign Minister returned to his 
message that he and his government were disappointed in the change 
in policy towards Ethiopia by the U.S. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The meeting was very brief and somber.  Foreign Minister 
Seyoum was clearly not willing to listen to explanations but to 
transmit a specific problem.  As reported previously based on the 
Ambassador's private discussions with the Prime Minister and broader 
Embassy reporting, the ruling EPRDF party and the leadership of the 
GoE have concerns that the new U.S. Administration will bring a 
changed policy position which stresses human rights and overlooks 
security and regional stability, which the Ethiopians feel is the 
basis of the U.S.-Ethiopian relationship. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Acting Assistant Secretary Carter raised human rights 
issues with Prime Minister Meles recently -- which reflects the 
growing concerns in Congress as well as in the new Administration -- 
the treatment of the opposition, passage of restrictive laws, 
narrowing of political space, and restrictions on NGOs dealing with 
advancing democratic values.  While the Foreign Minister argued that 
he welcomed such discussions, the Prime Minister and other leaders 
in both the ruling party and government have been defensive to 
questions posed by the Ambassador and Embassy staff on democratic 
and human rights issues.  Post believes that senior bilateral talks 
in Washington would be appropriate and necessary but we should also 
expect that relations with Ethiopia will be challenging in the 
coming year as we push the Ethiopian Government on political and 
economic reforms and as we head into 2010 national elections.  End 
Comment. 
 
YAMAMOTO