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FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
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UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN G20 AGENDA CONCERNS 
 
 ¶1. (SBU) Charge and DCM met with the Prime Minister's 
Economic Advisor, and G20 sherpa, Minister Newaye Christos 
Gebre-Ab September 15, at the latter,s request.  Gebre-Ab 
had just returned from the G20 sherpa meeting in the U.S. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Noting that PM Meles would be representing views 
from all Africa during the G20  meeting, Gebre-Ab indicated 
that  there were two issues in particular that Meles would 
wish to emphasize.  First was follow-up to London G20 
discussions regarding a prospective World Bank fund to 
promote food security.  Gebre-Ab said that the African 
position was clearly in full support of the proposal, and the 
Ethiopian delegation wished to emphasize that rapid 
establishment and full funding at target levels are important 
to Africa.  As well, efficient and timely disbursement from 
the fund by the Bank would be important to ensure realization 
of the fund,s goals.  For the latter point in particular, 
Gabre-Ab noted that strong support and interest by major 
partners such as the U.S. would be important, and he hoped 
such support would be made clear during the G20. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Gebre-Ab also said that in London there had been 
discussion of utilization of International Monetary Fund 
(IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR,s) which were not being 
otherwise drawn down by some member states.  Specifically, he 
said major economic powers such as the U.S. were obviously 
unlikely to draw on the newly-available SDR,s, and ideas had 
been discussed to utilize these to permit additional 
extension lending by the IMF to specific countries, within 
the parameters of borrowing limits as set by IMF policy. 
Interest accruing to the original beneficiary state could be 
maintained by the specific conditions of such lending, 
especially as that interest is set at concessional or 
marginal rates in any event.  This would be a subject that 
the Ethiopian delegation, on behalf of fellow African states, 
would like to discuss further during the G20. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Related to the above, Gebre-Ab said he would find it 
very useful to be able to have bilateral meeting(s) with USG 
officials, presumably from Treasury and State, just prior to 
the G20 meeting.  He was uncertain as to the date of the 
immediate pre-G20 sherpa meeting, but said that if this were 
to be held September 23, for example, September 22 would seem 
a good time for such bilateral meeting(s). 
 
¶5. (SBU) CDA indicated that we would pass along Gebre-Ab,s 
views and meeting request, and would advise him of any 
information available prior to his expected September 20 
departure from Ethiopia. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment and action request:  The Embassy supports a 
bilateral meeting or meetings with Gebre-Ab in advance of the 
G20 if at all possible.  At minimum, such a meeting would be 
useful to convey to the Ethiopians, and by extension other 
Africans states, that the USG is interested in and listening 
to African views related to the G20 agenda.  Embassy requests 
any information regarding possible bilateral meetings be 
provided to relay to Gebre-Ab prior to September 20, as well 
as any substantive information desired to be conveyed to him. 
MEECE