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RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHDS #0279/01 0420411
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110411Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7715
INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000279 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND IO/UNP 
LONDON FOR PLORD 
PARIS FOR WBAIN 
USEU FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
NSC FOR MGAVIN 
SECDEF FOR DASD VICKI HUDDLESTON 
USAID FOR AFR AND ODP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AU
 
SUBJECT: AU Summit - European Union's Manservisi Reaffirms 
Partnership with U.S. 
 
This message is from USAU Ambassador Michael A. Battle. 
 
¶1.  (U) February 1, 2010, 10:30 a.m.; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
 
¶2.  (U) Participants: 
 
United States 
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson 
NSC Senior Director Michelle Gavin 
USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Earl Gast 
USAU Ambassador Michael Battle 
Special Assistant Akunna Cook 
AU Desk Officer Ryan Bowles 
USAID AU Desk Officer Sarah Swift 
 
European Union 
Director General for Development (DG-DEV) Stefano Manservisi 
Ambassador of the EU to the African Union, Koen Vervaeke 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Summary:  A/S Carson and the European Union's DG-DEV 
Stefano Manservisi met at the African Union (AU) Summit, to share 
their satisfaction with the outcomes of the summit, especially the 
election of President of Malawi Bingu wa Mutharika as Chairperson of 
the AU and to confer on key African foreign policy issues.  These 
included Ethiopian elections and civil society; donor coordination 
on Somalia; regional approaches to security and development issues; 
and the salary structure for AU peacekeepers.   They articulated 
complementary strategies with respect to Ethiopian elections, 
including efforts to work within the Charities and Societies (CSO) 
law, and discussed perspectives on a Spanish-proposed political 
conference on Somalia.  They discussed the Regional Economic 
Communities and the AU, including support of the USG in different 
sectors.  Finally, Carson noted his concern with the salary 
structure for AU peacekeeping, as opposed to that of UN 
peacekeepers, and its impact on availability of qualified 
peacekeepers on the continent.  Manservisi indicated that given 
evidence of such an impact, he would support a change in the AU 
salary structure.   End Summary. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Ethiopia: Elections and Civil Society 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Carson and Manservisi compared notes on their respective 
meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, noting that he 
is clearly committed to maintaining a hard line leading up to the 
election.  Both agreed that while Meles is tough, it was important 
to keep pushing back, and insisting to the GOE that democracy in 
Ethiopia must take a positive trajectory.  They also noted the 
importance of the opposition avoiding incendiary actions.  The EU is 
proceeding with planning for an independent observation mission, 
headed by former EU Commissioner, and current member of the European 
parliament, Louis Michel.  A preparatory mission is planned for 
February 15-22. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) With regard to implementation of the new CSO law in 
Ethiopia, the EU has been exploring means of adapting to the 
requirement that no civil society organization operating in Ethiopia 
can get more than ten percent of its funding from abroad. 
Manservisi agreed that the EU would follow up with the USG on their 
experiences, as efforts to continue to support Ethiopian civil 
society continue. 
 
¶6.  (U) Despite all the challenges associated with working with the 
GOE, Manservisi did note that he was pleased with the role that 
Meles has played in the international climate change negotiations, 
helping Africa to speak with a single voice.  He indicated his 
expectation that the next AU Summit would include a strong 
deliverable on climate change. 
 
------------------------------- 
Political Conference on Somalia 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (U) Carson raised the subject of a Spanish-proposed political 
conference on Somalia.   He indicated that while he was not entirely 
opposed to the idea, he was concerned about the added value--how it 
would differ from International Contact Group (ICG) meetings and 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00000279  002 OF 002 
 
 
other donor coordination avenues.  He and Manservisi agreed that 
there had been challenges in getting donors to fulfill their pledges 
from previous events.  They concluded that the objective of the 
meeting would be to advance donor implementation of pledged support, 
and that if such a meeting is planned, that an advance meeting of a 
smaller group should be held to determine goals and strategies to 
achieve that objective. 
 
---------------------------- 
Africa Regional Architecture 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Manservisi indicated his interest in strengthening Africa's 
regional architecture including the Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs) and the AU.  This encompasses both peace and security 
functions as well as economic and social developments.  He talked 
about the need to engage as donors with the AU to build capacity and 
strengthen the linkages between the RECs and the AU.  Carson 
indicated that the U.S. relationship with the AU is managed by 
Ambassador Michael Battle, who is currently a co-chair of the AU 
Partners Group.  He indicated that our engagement to date has been 
largely focused on the peace and security functions of the AU, but 
that USAID is working on expanding its engagement in social and 
economic sectors, as well as continuing work with the AU on 
democracy and governance issues. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Salary Structure for AU Peacekeepers 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Finally, Carson consulted Manservisi on the question of 
salary for AU peacekeepers, noting the substantial support provided 
by the EU for this purpose, especially in connection with AMISOM. 
Currently, AU peacekeepers earn $750 a month, as compared to $1000 a 
month paid to peacekeepers working on UN missions.  Carson asked 
Manservisi's support for increasing the AU salaries to the UN rate, 
noting that this might prove a useful incentive for African 
countries to contribute more troops to AU missions.   In particular 
he suggested that this could improve the availability of troops to 
AMISOM and help to move the mission forward.  Manservisi indicated 
that if there were evidence that such an increase would indeed 
impact the availability of peacekeepers, he would support such a 
change. 
 
¶10. (U) A/S Carson has not cleared this cable. 
 
YATES