Cablegate: Ethiopia: 1999 Annual Terrorism Report

P 151423Z NOV 99
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7983

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 006849

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT FOR REAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: 1999 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 204472

1. FORMAT FOR THIS MESSAGE WAS DERIVED FROM REFTEL.

A. THE ETHIOPIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE TO RESPOND TO ANY
ACTS OF TERRORISM DURING 1999, INCLUDING HOST GOVERNMENT
PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM.

B. ETHIOPIA DID NOT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF
SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECUTION DURING 1999. IF REQUESTED TO
DO SO, THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD EXTRADITE SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS TO THE UNITED STATES.

C. THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT
PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.

D. THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS IN THE PAST PUBLICLY CONDEMNED
TERRORISM AND WOULD COOPERATE FULLY WITH ANY INVESTIGATION INTO
TERRORIST ACTS OR INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INVESTIGATIONS.

E. ETHIOPIA ACTIVELY PROSECUTES SUSPECTED TERRORISTS AGAINST
SOMALIA. HOWEVER, THE ETHIOPIA GOVERNMENT'S FOCUS IN 1999 HAS
BEEN ON THE BORDER DISPUTE WITH ERITREA.

F. ETHIOPIA DOES NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS,
OR TERRORIST GROUPS, NOR DO THEY OFFER ANY SUPPORT OR EXTEND ANY
PRIVILEGES OR TRAINING.

G. THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS
SUPPORTING A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORIST ISSUE.

H. THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 1998 IN ETHIOPIA'S
ATTITUDE TOWARDS DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. ETHIOPIA IS
VERY AGGRESSIVE IN ANTI-TERRORISM EFFORTS.

I. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COOPERATION ON COUNTER-TERRORISM INITIATIVES
IN TERMS OF TRAINING. THE ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES COOPERATE FULLY
WHEN SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED.

J. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COOPERATION. ALTHOUGH NO ONE HAS BEEN
CONVICTED, THEY HAVE COOPERATED FULLY. THE ETHIOPIANS ARE
EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING PEOPLE FROM ENTERING THROUGH PORTS OF ENTRY.

K. THE EMBASSY HAS NOT SOUGHT COOPERATION DURING THE PAST 5 YEARS
IN THE PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST
U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS. HOWEVER, IF REQUESTED, IT IS BELIEVED
ETHIOPIA WOULD COOPERATE FULLY.

2. (U) SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT
THE RSO OFFICE.

NAGY

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